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Updated: June 13, 2025


There were, he found, twelve natives in all Topsail-tie, who was their leader, Jack Waterwitch, the Anaa man, four Solomon Islanders, and five others from various islands. For an hour or more the young man conversed with his old friends, who delightedly agreed to leave their mountain retreat and go on board the brigantine as soon as she was ready to sail.

Two years had come and gone since Flemming had landed on the island with his wife, family, and two native servants, and settled down as a resident trader at the large and populous village of Tuuhora, where he soon gained the respect and confidence if not the friendship of the Anaa people, one of the proudest, most self-reliant, and brave of any of the Polynesian race, or their offshoots.

'One time long ago, said Uncle Ned, 'I see Anaa all-e-same that, four five hours befo' we come up. Capena he say sun go down, sun go up again; he say lagoon all-e-same milla. 'All-e-same WHAT? asked Davis. 'Milla, sah, said Uncle Ned. 'Oh, ah! mirror, said Davis. 'I see; reflection from the lagoon. Well, you know, it is just possible, though it's strange I never heard of it.

'What breeze had you that time you made Anaa, Uncle Ned? said he. 'Six or seven knots, was the reply. 'Thirty or thirty-five miles, said Davis. 'High time we were shortening sail, then. If it is an island, we don't want to be butting our head against it in the dark; and if it isn't an island, we can get through it just as well by daylight. Ready about! he roared.

For some years after the abduction of the four unfortunate natives, Flemming had tried every possible means of ascertaining their fate, and at first thought that he would succeed, for within a few weeks after the visit of the barque to Anaa, there came news of similar outrages perpetrated by three vessels, through the Ellice, Line Islands and Paumotu Group.

"What breeze had you that time you made Anaa, Uncle Ned?" said he. "Six or seven knots," was the reply. "Thirty or thirty-five miles," said Davis. "High time we were shortening sail, then. If it is an island, we don't want to be butting our head against it in the dark; and if it isn't an island, we can get through it just as well by daylight. Ready about!" he roared.

Having left Anaa with 500 fellow-countrymen in three canoes to render homage to Pomaré III., who had just ascended the throne, Ton-Wari had been driven out of his course by westerly winds. These were succeeded by variable breezes, and provisions were soon so completely exhausted that the survivors had to feed on the bodies of those who were the first to succumb.

"Father, father," and the eldest boy ran to him, and scarcely able to stand, so exhausted was he, he flung himself down on the verandah steps, "father, Jack and Tom, and the two Anaa men... been stolen by a strange ship... we must... we must save them."

So to Gallao be went, for he was ever bearing in mind the grief of his children at the loss of their dear "Tommy Topsail-tie" and "Jacky Waterwitch," and his promise to them that if they and their Anaa companions were alive he would bring them back.

'You are yet in time, said he; 'a spirit has just run past my door carrying the soul of your child wrapped in the leaf of a purao; but I have a spirit stronger and swifter who will run him down ere he has time to eat it. Wrapped in a leaf: like other things edible and corruptible. Or take an experience of Mr. Donat's on the island of Anaa.

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