Some were so gentlemanlike in their appearance, and so fascinating in their manners, that they could, and actually did, " deceive the very elect." There was a ship here from China, with a valuable cargo of China goods; the captain was a pious man, and somewhat advanced in years. He was one day introduced to a gentleman on shore, purporting to be a merchant of Santiago. He managed to get an invitation and accompanied the captain on board the ship. When in the cabin, he commenced overhauling the captain's library, appearing to be much pleased with the collection; observing at the same time, that he had a valuable work, consisting of twelve volumes, which he would be most happy to present to him, as an addition to his library.
To this act of generosity our unsuspecting captain very properly responded. The conversation now turned upon the cargo. Having understood that the captain had a well assorted adventure, was desirous of seeing some of the articles, with a view of purchasing. The captain brought out a variety of crape shawls, and several pieces of rich China silks, all of which were pronounced excellent, and well adapted to the Santiago market. Our merchant made a considerable purchase, and the goods were to be sent on shore to his address, where he would then pay the money. He then went on shore, taking leave in the politest manner. The goods, according to appointment, were sent as directed; and in order to relieve the suspense of the reader, I will say that he never saw either merchant, money, or goods again; and as the captain tells the story himself, we must believe it to be true.
Before sailing for home, there were necessarily some inter♦ change of officers and seamen, and among the officers who were ordered to our ship from the frigate Constellation, was a young lieutenant, John B. Cambreling, who, for some slight misdemeanor, had been ordered home. This had such an effect upon his sensibilities, that he became raving crazy, and expired in great apparent agony a very few days after he had joined the ship. During our absence from Valparaiso, there had been two noted pirates arrested, who were put on board the English frigate Andromache, Capt. Sheriff, for safe keeping, until the return of the Macedonian. They were then handed overdo Capt. Downes, who immediately recognized them as old shipmates. They were properly secured, in order to be taken to the United States for trial.
The particulars of the act of piracy for which they were arrested, were as follows: When the U. S. frigate Essex, Com. Porter, was cruising in the Pacific, it will be remembered that she captured several English whaleships; and on board one of them, these two men made part of the prize crew; and in consequence of having manned a number of prizes, Capt. Porter could not spare as many men and officers, as the prizes actually needed; and on board the prize where these two men were put, there were but three officers. The crew became mutinous, rose upon the officers, and I believe killed one, confined the others, and took possession of the ship.
She was subsequently re-taken by an English manof-war, and carried into Sydney, New South Wales; and on a fair representation of the affair to government, these men, being Americans, were arrested and sent to Valparaiso; while the others, being Englishmen, were retained at Sydney. These particulars I ascertained from one of our crew, who was on board the Essex at the time when the above took place. And it may be truly said, even in this case, that the " way of the transgressor is hard." These two unfortunate men were confined for some time at Sydney; they were then sent to Valparaiso, confined several weeks on board the Andromache, and were now to go to the United States in double irons, and there to be tried for their lives.
Many times I have gone to them in the dark, when off Cape Horn, while they were shivering with cold, carrying a pot of warm tea and other small comforts, which were received with tears of gratitude. They were fast wasting away, and died naturally, a short time after their arrival in the United States.0 We sailed from Valparaiso about the loth of March, 1821, stopping a few days at Rio Janeiro. While here, I had an opportunity of seeing about twenty strange looking Indians. They were part of a tribe that had been captured in the interior of Brazil, and were kept on an island under charge of a small guard. They were hideous looking savages, having a flat piece of wood, varying from four to six inches in diameter, inserted within the rim of the lower lip, and projecting horizontally.