MASSACRE OF AN ENGLISH CREW BY SAVAGES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 537, 26 December 1867, Page 2

MASSACRE OF AN ENGLISH CREW BY SAVAGES.

A Tiri R n.TTI T.li! STO HY

The following report appears in the Army and Navy Gazette ; —The Wasp, 13. screw sloop, Captain Norman B. Bedinfield, left Trincomalie on the 12th nf Mav for Penanff. to confer with and ascertain particulars from the Governor of the Straits settlement, relative to the murder of the crew of the English ship Futtab Islam. We arrived at Naucowry on the 16th of •June, and anchored in False Harbour. The murders were committed at Trincutt Champlong, on Great Nickobar Island. The natives of this latter place had brought their plunder to Nancowry to exchange or sell. The money taken from the ship is said to be somewhere concealed on Comacta Island. The chief man concerned in the murder is called Buttai. It seems that there was no provocation given, and from their statements it appears to be no uncommon thing, as they spoke of it in a most cool matter-of-fact way. The captain landed the same evening, and induced a woman named Salamah to come on board, as it was known she had seen a white

woman. From the statement she made the captain thought it advisable to detain her, and four of the principal chiefs who had come with her. One other chief, in whose possession the white woman was seen (and who calls himself Captain Francis), was prevailed upon to come on board by a messenger sent from Salamah. After repeated examinations, the following facts were elicited : —About four years ago a vessel arrived from Penang, laden with all kinds of merchandise for barter. A plot was entered into by the natives, headed by a chief called Han-Ang-Siu, to seize the ship.

A day or so after, the captain was murdered on shore and the ship surprised the same night. The crew were all murdered, and a lady and two children taken to Han-Aug-Siu’s village. The story of this poor lady is horrible in the extreme. Soon after her lauding she was delivered of a child, still-born. She was handed about from one of these villains to another to serve the vilest purposes for about three years. When seen by Mahomet Mydeen she was “ miserably

thin, ami crying bitterly.” She was also separated from her children, and knew not whether they were dead or living. When it was known that she had been seen at Francis’s Village by Mahomet Mydeen (who had returned to Penang), it was not thought prudent to allow her to stop here any longer, so she was taken back to HanAng Siu’s place, where she lived a short time. He then determined to do away with her as a matter of safety. For this purpose he had caused his wife to administer to her and her children (who had been brought back) poisoned fish. Salamah says the fish was administered in the morning, and the effects on the lady soon became

visible, every limb swelling to an enormous size ; but yet she “ would not ” die. She was crying very much. At sunset, Han Ang-Siu, becoming impatient at her not dying, dragged her into the woods and returned without her, having murdered her there. The children recovered. One, about twelve years of age, is now living at the village of a chief called Ha-Che-up ; and the other, about fifteen, is still with Han-Ang-Siu. They were described as very fair, with light hair, and the youngest has some mark on her left cheeck. Francis says that this account of Saiamah’s is perfectly correct, but adds that there are still other white women on the islands, and gave the following account: —“About three years ago a brig anchored off the village of Mourza. The chief and natives of that place surprised the ship, murdered the captain and crew, and took the captain’s wife and two children (a boy and girl) on shore. This

. * xL. pOOr WOUiau Wits ucaiuu mutu iju *uv same way as the other.” He says that they are now (June 24th) on the Island of Trincutt, at Prooyan’s vil-

lage, where he had seen them six days ago. Thus it will be seen that they have now in captivity four European females and one boy. Captain Btdinfield has done everything man can do under the circumstances. He released two of the prisoners who were not im-

plicated, and sent them as messengers to the chiefs, offering them large rewards if they would give the captives up. These fellows never returned. Immediately it became known that Francis was detained, every village on the sea shore was deserted—the natives going inland, taking with them everything of value. Finding they would not communicate, we searched their villages for papers, or anything that might lead to the identification of the ships, but found nothing. Had the captain’s orders not been most stringent not to have recourse to hostile measures without further communication with the commodore, I feel positive that we should have brought them to terms, and doubtless have liberated the unfortunate creatures. Seeing that nothing more could be done, we came back to Penang for farther orders. On our arrival, finding the Governor bad returned to Singapore, we came on after him with all despatch. No one as yet knows what steps are to be taken, but doubtless it will be settled in a few days. The Wasp is now three years and eight mouths in commission, and during the whole time has never left the tropics We are anxiously looking forward for our relief, but hope satisfactorily to fulfil our mission by liberating our unhappy countrywomen before we leave for England.