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Updated: October 4, 2025
It was this busy occupation that caused the savages to forget, for a time, the very existence of Wandering Will and his friends; and if Bukawanga thought of them, it was to conclude that they had taken refuge with one of the tribes on the other side of the island. That which seemed to amuse and delight the natives most in the new arrivals was the clothing which was distributed among them.
He soon explained the object of his visit, and, by distributing a few presents, so far mollified the people that he was allowed to land, but it was plain that they regarded him with distrust. The tide was turned in the missionary's favour, however, by the runaway sailor, Buchanan, or Bukawanga.
Observing this, and that the warriors around him scowled on them in a peculiarly savage manner, most of the prisoners felt that their lives hung, as it were, upon a thread. The aspect of things changed, however, when their friend stood up and addressed the assembly. Bukawanga had not yet said a word about the cause of his sudden return from the war expedition.
"What!" exclaimed Will Osten, "must we fight without clothing?" "An' wid painted skins?" said Larry. "Yes, unless you would be a special mark for the enemy," replied Bukawanga; "but you have no chance if you don't become in every way like one of us." Seeing that the man was in earnest, they were fain to submit.
"Then strip, and we'll paint you right off," said Bukawanga; "look alive, now!" He fastened the torch which he held in his hand to a beam of the hut, and cut the bonds of the prisoners; then, going to the door, he summoned two men, who came in with a basket made of leaves, in which were several cocoa-nut shells filled with red, white, and black earth, or paint.
There was also offered to them a beverage named ava, which is intoxicating in its nature, and very disgusting in its preparation. This, however, Bukawanga advised them not to touch. "Now, Mr Bukkie Whangy," said Larry, after having appeased his appetite, "if I may make so bowld as to ax how came ye here?" "The story is short enough and sad enough," replied his new friend.
Passing over the details of the brief campaign, we touch only on those points which affected the subsequent movements of the whites. Bukawanga, who virtually acted the part of commander-in-chief, although all the chiefs considered themselves above him, moved about actively at all times to make sure that the village was properly guarded at every point.
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