the case, as I afterwards found out;
many were killed by the spears when on board, others when they leaped
from the vessel to avoid the flames, and the remainder had been
suffocated.

As the sun rose above the horizon, a loud explosion took place, by which
I knew that the flames had communicated with the magazine, and that the
ship had been blown to atoms. I determined to hide myself in the bushes,
with the hope of not being discovered. Before I went, I made a hasty
visit to the poor wounded woman, to see how she was. It was broad
daylight, and I found that I had afforded succour to a very beautiful
young girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old. As she still appeared
faint, I brought her some more water, and when I gave it to her, she
expressed her gratitude with her eyes. Examining the bandages, which had
slipped a little on one side, I replaced them, and then darted into the
thickest of the underwood. As I pressed on, bent half double, my head
suddenly came in contact with something hard; I looked up, and found
that it was the head of one of the islanders, who was also forcing his
way through the bushes, an immense, powerful man, who immediately sprung
upon me, and pinned me to the ground. He was followed by several others
who came to his assistance, and all resistance was useless. They pulled
some of the creeping withies, that grow in those countries, and bound me
hand and foot; then selecting a large pole, they made me fast to it, and
carried me away. When they arrived at the beach, I was laid down on my
back, exposed to the burning sun. Left to my own reflections, and
calling to mind all that I could recollect from the voyages and travels
which I had read, I concluded that I was to be made a sacrifice of to
their gods. I prayed to heaven for mercy, and resigned myself to my
fate, which appeared inevitable.

The islanders had all assembled on the beach close to where I lay. The
dead bodies of their companions, who had fallen in the conflict, and the
wounded, were carried into the canoes. They formed a circle round the
fire, which they had kindled, made several speeches, and danced a
war-dance. I turned round on my side, and perceived to my horror, that
they had collected all the bodies of my companions, and were devouring
them. What they did not feel inclined to eat, they packed up in baskets,
and put into the canoes. I anticipated that such would be my own
fate--not at present, as they had more than they could