Boon Island - Kenneth Roberts [27]
Page 54
accordingly launch'd her, with George White and the Dutchman upon it, giving them Orders, if they got ashore, to acquaint the People with our Distress, and to beg their hastening to our Assistance. But the Raft overset, by which the Men were almost drown'd, so that none would venture upon it again except the Dutchman and another. We pray'd heartily for their Success, and saw them paddle along till the Sun was down, and they appear'd to us to be so near the Shore, that we hoped they might Land safely.
That Night it blew very hard, and the next Day our Carpenter died as above-mention'd, and in the Morning we hawl'd him out of the Tent. That same Day the Captain and George White went out to see what they could find, but return'd empty handed. Upon this the Captain propos'd the sleying and eating of the Carpenter's dead Body, and told us, It was no Sin, since God waspleas'd to take him out of the World, and that we had not laid violent Hands upon him. He ask'd the Boatswain to help to skin and cut him up, which he refus'd because of his Weakness, whereupon one Charles Gray help'd the Captain to do it, and brought in several pieces of the Corps into the Tent, where some of our Men eat of it; but the Mate, the Boatswain, and George White wou'd not touch any of it till next Day that they were forced to it by Extremity of Hunger.
Here the Captain is guilty of several Heads, and particularly pag. [29], &c. for he was so far from offering to go ashore on the Raft, that he said, Let who will go 'twas all one to him. Nor did the Dutchman or Swede ever desire the Captain to go with him or help him to turn the Raft; nor did the Captain assist George White to get ashore when he was overset in the Raft. It is likewise false, that the other Man who went off in the Raft was found dead with a Paddle fastned to his Wrist, for his Corps was found about 300 Yards from the Shore, and no Paddles to his Wrist. 'Tis likewise false, that the Captain went several times out alone
Page 55
to look for Provisions, for George White was always with him. Nor is it true, that the piece of Cow's Hide before mention'd was brought into the Tent by the Captain's Order, for George White brought it without his Knowledge. It is likewise false, that the Men first requested the Carpenter's dead Body of the Captain to eat, for he himself was the first that propos'd it, and the Three Deponents refus'd to eat any of it until the next Morning that the Captain brought in some of his Liver and intreated 'em to eat of it; so that the Captain's Pretensions of being moved with Horror at the Thoughts of it, are false, for there was no Man that eat more of the Corps than himself. It is likewise false, that any of the Men removed the dead Body from the Place where they laid it at first. It is also untrue, that the Captain order'd his Skin, Head, Hands, &c. to be buried in the Sea, for these we left on the Island when we came off. Nor is there any more Truth in the Care which the Captain ascribes to himself, in hindring us to eat too much of the Corps lest it should prejudice our Health; for we all agreed, the Night before we come off; to limit our selves, lest our Deliverers should be detain'd from coming to us. And as to our Tempers being alter'd after the eating of humane Flesh, as the Captain charges us, p. [35]. we can safely declare, that tho' he says, There was nothing to be heard among us but brutish Quarrels, with horrid Oaths and Imprecations, all the Oaths we heard were between the Captain, his Brother, and Mr. Whitworth, who often quarrel'd about their Lying and