CHAPTER NINE.
ADVENTURES AMONG THE ISLANDS.
The Ajax had remained at Callao in order that Captain Bertram mightobtain more information respecting the slaving expedition of which hehad received notice. All he could learn, however, was that a dozen ormore vessels had sailed, fully armed, with stores for a long cruise, anda larger quantity of rice and other provisions than could be required bytheir crews. Where they had gone no one could tell. Probably theislands they were to attack were left to the choice of their commanders.
On putting to sea, the Ajax steered to the westward. As the frigateapproached the numerous groups of islands which lay in her course, itbecame necessary to keep a very bright look-out, by day as well as bynight. The first group consisted of low coral islands, which rise but afew feet above the water.
Ben was anxious to make himself useful as before, and was continually atthe masthead, when his watch was over, looking out for land. One day,when he was as usual aloft, turning his eyes round in every direction,he saw right ahead what seemed to be a grove of trees rising directlyout of the water. He reported what he saw. Sail was immediatelyshortened, and the lead hove, and, as the ship sailed on, the lead wasagain frequently hove.
"It is the Minerva coral island," Ben heard the captain observe to MrCharlton, after he and the master had been looking over the chart.
As the ship rose and fell with the swell of the ocean, the trees werenow seen and now again lost sight of alternately for some time; this hada very curious effect. As the frigate drew near, a white sandy beachwas seen, and, higher up, a belt of land of a light clay colour, onwhich grew a few shrubs not more than fifteen feet high, above whichtowered the pandanus, cocoa-nut, and palms. The whole island was aboutten miles long, and a mile and a half wide, the centre part beingoccupied by a lagoon, or lake, of smooth deeply blue water, thus leavinga belt of land not more than six hundred feet across. This lagoon hadno opening or entrance to it, but Ben heard that the lagoons of most ofthe coral islands have a communication with the sea, so that boats andcanoes can enter. Outside the island, at some little distance, rose asecond or outer reef, over which the sea flowed at high water. Thisserved in heavy gales, when the waves rolled in furious to break theirforce, and to protect the shore over which they might otherwise haveswept, carrying away the trees and shrubs which made it a fit habitationfor man.
Mr Martin gave Ben and Tom an account of the way these coral islandsare formed. "Coral, you will understands is made by very small seainsects, who form it for their habitation," he observed. "God has giventhem the instinct to build in certain ways and places, just, as if theyknew what they were about, and that they were building up an island fitto be inhabited by human beings. They seem to choose the tops of rocksfrom one hundred to two hundred fathoms below the surface, for thefoundation of their structure. They have toiled on for ages, placingstorey upon storey, till the surface has been reached, when they havebeen compelled to cease; for out of the water, whence they draw theirmaterials--their bricks and mortar, so to speak--they can do nothing.The outer edge breaks the force of the sea, but not altogether. Enoughstrength is exerted during storms to tear off the outer edge of thecoral, and to throw it on the top of the wall. Seaweed and driftwoodand dead fish are next thrown up on it, which, when they decay, formsoil. Birds next come and rest on the island, and further enrich thesoil. They bring seeds of grass and small shrubs at first, andafterwards of larger trees, which take root and spring up, and in theirturn, when they decay, form more earth to nourish a larger species oftrees, such as the tall palms, and cocoa-nut, and pandanus, which wehave seen growing on them. The sandy beach is formed of the brokencoral and shells, ground small by the constant action of the waves. Ihave heard that the lagoons are often very deep, so that the island isexactly like a circular wall built up from the bottom of the sea, orrather from a rock far down in it."
Mr Martin promised the boys that he would tell them more about otherislands which they were likely to visit another time. He had also withhim some most interesting accounts of the progress which themissionaries had made among the heathen in those seas, which he promisedalso to give them.
People were seen on the shore, though no habitations were visible, andCaptain Bertram wished to communicate with them. While the frigate washove to, to leeward of the island, two boats were sent on shore underMr Charlton's command. Ben went in one of them. A native of Tahiti,called Tatai, had been shipped at Callao to act as interpreter, aswithout one very little intercourse could have been held with thenatives. Ben had told him all about Ned, and how he hoped to find himon one of the islands they expected to visit Tatai said that he must notbe too sanguine, as it was very like looking for a pearl in a bed ofoysters, though there were great numbers of white men scattered aboutamong the islands, and even living among the most savage natives. Hepromised, however, to make inquiries, and to help on his object as faras he had the power.
The boats had to coast along for some time before an entrance throughthe reef could be found. The sea dashed against the reef, and, curlingover, fell back in a shower of spray. A boat striking it would havebeen instantly overwhelmed or dashed to pieces. The passage between thetwo walls of water which thus rose up on either side of the entrance wasvery narrow. It seemed indeed that the boats could not pass throughwithout the oars touching the rocks. Mr Charlton, however, consideredthat the passage was practicable, so also did Tatai. Mr Charlton led,and as his boat was cautiously feeling its way, a smooth rollermajestically approached the shore. "Give way, lads," he cried. Theboat glided on, the water broke with a thundering roar on the reef; butthe boat, like an arrow, had shot through and was floating safely withinthe reef. The other boat immediately followed.
The natives from the shore had been watching these proceedings, and nowgathered in considerable numbers on the beach. They were all armed withspears, and showed an evident dislike to holding intercourse with thewhite people. They nourished their spears, pointed them towards theboats, and made significant gestures for the intruders to depart.Still, as it was important to speak to the poor savages, Mr Charltonpulled towards a ledge of rocks which ran out from the shore, and with abasket full of presents, landed, accompanied by Tatai. The people rantowards him, threatening with their spears as before. He advanced as ifto meet them, put down the presents, and then retreated. An old man,who wore a short petticoat of leaves fastened round his waist, and apandanus leaf hung from his neck as a sign that he was a chief, was infront. He stopped, picked up the handkerchiefs, knives, and trinketswhich formed the offering made to him, and, having handed them to hisfollowers, rushed on, gesticulating furiously, towards the Englishofficer. Tatai shouted out that the visitors came as friends, but theonly reply he got was, "Go away, go away! we do not want you," spoken inthe native tongue.
This was not encouraging. Mr Charlton, however, was not to bedefeated. Pulling off to a little distance from the shore, he consultedwith Tatai. "If we land without arms and offer them food, that willshow that we wish to be friends," he said. Tatai agreed to this, andoffered to accompany the lieutenant, provided the boat kept near enoughto render them assistance if required.
Again the boat pulled in, and Mr Charlton told Ben that he might landwith him, as the savages would see by a boy being of the party that notreachery could be intended. Again the boat touched the beach, at aspot where she could easily be shoved off, and, having deposited hissword and pistols and rifle in the boat, Mr Charlton with his twocompanions proceeded towards a group of natives who had been watchingtheir proceedings. The natives, instead of coming towards them, seemedto be holding a consultation together. Mr Charlton and his companions,seeing this, sat down, and, taking the provisions out of the basket Bencarried, commenced eating. After a short time, placing the food on aflat rock, and retiring to a little distance, they made signs to thenatives to come and eat.
The natives now without hesitation came down, led by their old chief,who took the lion's share of the food,
which he seemed to enjoy verymuch. When the old man had finished eating, Tatai addressed him. He nolonger said, "go away," but listened attentively. The interpreter toldhim that the English had come to his island as friends; that their onlyobject was to do him good; that they had heard that certain wickedpeople in vessels had visited some of the islands in their seas, andcarried off the natives to make slaves of them; and that, as the Englishdid not like having people made slaves, they were seeking for those badmen to punish them.
The old chief listened attentively to all that was said, and then made along speech, which Tatai translated. He remarked that everything he hadheard was very good; that two suspicious-looking vessels had appearedoff the coast not long before; that several boat-loads of armed men hadattempted to land; but that, a gale springing up at that moment, theycould not effect their purpose, and that the vessels were compelled tobear away.
Mr Charlton, on this, showed the British flag, and told them that,while they behaved well, under that flag they would ever findprotection.
The old chief seemed clearly to comprehend what was said. A new lighthad burst on him. "How is it that your friends are so great andpowerful, while I am so poor and miserable?" he asked of Tatai.
"Because my friends worship the great and powerful God, who has giventhem a Book which makes those who study it wise, while you worship yourwretched gods, who are no gods, and cannot help you or make you wise, ordo you any good," answered the interpreter promptly.
"Then I should like to learn about your God," said the old chief.
Tatai, in reply, promised that he would try and send some one who wouldteach them more about the white man's God, and what He desired them todo, and teach them how to pray to Him.
Mr Charlton was much pleased with what Tatai had said, and promisedthat he would also try to have either a native or English missionarysent to them. He then made more presents to the old chief, made furtherinquiries about the vessels of the supposed man-stealers, and, after afriendly farewell to the old chief and his companions, pulled back tothe ship.
Thus a visit which threatened to prove disastrous, by judiciousmanagement gave promise of being productive of great good to theislanders.
After this, the Ajax visited several other islands, searching for theman-stealers. Some were inhabited, others had the remains of huts,altars, and temples, and had been deserted; and on others no signs ofhuman beings could be discovered.