first appeared in a savage state, but after a short time,
stated the following particulars relative to the loss of the Stedcombe,
and the massacre of the crew: The Stedcombe, Mr. Barns, master, arrived
off the coast in the year 1823. Mr. Barns* having left her in charge of
the mate, he and two or three others went ashore at Melville Island.

(*Footnote. When at Sydney, in 1838, I met Mr. Barns, who corroborated
Forbes's account. J.L.S.)

The mate ran her into Timor Laut, and anchored; he then went ashore with
the crew, leaving the steward, Forbes, and another boy, on board. After
they had been ashore a short time, Forbes looked through a telescope to
see what they were about, when he saw that the whole of the crew were
being massacred by the natives. He immediately communicated that fact to
the steward, and advised him to unshackle the anchor, and run out to sea,
as the wind was from the land. The steward told him to go about his
business, and when he got on deck he found the vessel surrounded with
canoes. The natives came on board and murdered the steward; Forbes and
the other boy got up the rigging, and in consequence of their expertness
the natives were unable to catch them, but at last made signs for them to
come down, and they would not hurt them. They availed themselves of the
only chance left them of saving their lives, and surrendered. They were
immediately bound, and taken on shore; a rope was fastened to the ship,
her cable slipped, and the natives hauled her ashore, where she soon
became a wreck. Forbes states that several Dutchmen had called at the
island, to whom he appealed for rescue, but they all refused to
interfere; and latterly, whenever any vessel hove in sight, he was always
bound hand and foot, so that he should have no chance of escape. Both
himself and the other boy had been made slaves to the tribes; his
companion died about three years since. The poor fellow is still in a
very bad state of health; the sinews of his legs are very much
contracted, and he has a great number of ulcers all over his legs and
body. Fortunately for Forbes, Mr. Watson had a surgeon on board the
Essington, who immediately put him under a course of medicine, which,
without doubt, saved his life; for, from the emaciated state in which he
was received on board, it was impossible, without medical aid, that he
could have survived much longer. Too much Fraise cannot be awarded to Mr.
Watson for his exertions in rescuing this