t. Seeing we were incapable of making any resistance, he
sheathed his sword, and the others immediately followed his example.
They then dragged us into their boat, and carried us on board one of
their junks, with the most savage demonstrations of joy, and as we
supposed, to torture and put us to a cruel death. When on board the
junk, they searched all our pockets, took the handkerchiefs from our
necks, and brought heavy chains to chain us to the guns.

At this time a boat came, and took me, with one of my men and the
interpreter, on board the chief's vessel. I was then taken before the
chief. He was seated on deck, in a large chair, dressed in purple silk,
with a black turban on. He appeared to be about thirty years of age, a
stout commanding-looking man. He took me by the coat, and drew me close
to him; then questioned the interpreter very strictly, asking who we
were, and what was our business in that part of the country. I told him
to say we were Englishmen in distress, having been four days at sea
without provisions. This he would not credit, but said we were bad men,
and that he would put us all to death; and then ordered some men to put
the interpreter to the torture until he confessed the truth.

Upon this occasion, a Ladrone, who had been once to England and spoke a
few words of English, came to the chief, and told him we were really
Englishmen, and that we had plenty of money, adding, that the buttons on
my coat were gold. The chief then ordered us some coarse brown rice, of
which we made a tolerable meal, having eat nothing for nearly four days,
except a few green oranges. During our repast, a number of Ladrones
crowded round us, examining our clothes and hair, and giving us every
possible annoyance. Several of them brought swords, and laid them on our
necks, making signs that they would soon take us on shore, and cut us in
pieces, which I am sorry to say was the fate of some hundreds during my
captivity.

I was now summoned before the chief, who had been conversing with the
interpreter; he said I must write to my captain, and tell him, if he did
not send a hundred thousand dollars for our ransom, in ten days he would
put us all to death. In vain did I assure him it was useless writing
unless he would agree to take a much smaller sum; saying we were all
poor men, and the most we could possibly raise would not exceed two
thousand dollars. Finding that he was much exasperated at my
expostulations, I embraced t