“From Amboyna, Mr. Robson embarked in the Dutch frigate Pallas, for Batavia, and on their passage thither, fell in with and was captured by his Majesty’s ships Greyhound and Harrier, and brought to Prince of Wales’s Island.
“From Penang I went to Bengal, with the Varuna, Captain Dennison, and arrived safely in Calcutta a few days ago.”
All the other accounts which we have seen, relative to the calamitous loss of this vessel, are mere repetitions of the captain’s letter. In one, however, it is stated, that the resistance which they met with from the natives, originated entirely with the women; who, notwithstanding their seeming mildness, were the first transgressors. They intended to make themselves mistresses of the cutter; and by their wanton proceedings, the men were stimulated to hostilities. These people, like all those whom nature has left in a wild state, evidently delighted in plunder.
When Mr. Robson landed on Ceram, it was his intention to return to the long-boat, with all possible speed, but he was detained on shore by the Lascars, who insisted on his accompanying them to Amboyna. The remaining part of the Lascars, who were afterwards landed, overtook the first party; and from these Mr. Robson learned that the long-boat had declined waiting for him any longer, and was now proceeding on through the straits of Bantam. Indeed this gentleman did not suppose that Capt. Forrest would wait for him so long as he did, or he would certainly have watched an opportunity of escaping from the Lascars, and returning to him. He now made up his mind of prosecuting his journey to Amboyna, where he met with the kind reception that has been already stated, and which far exceeded his expectations.
Except the crew of the jolly boat, who were all lost, the rest were happily, and indeed we may add, most wonderfully preserved.
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Letters received from St. Helena, in 1802, give a most singular and affecting narrative respecting six deserters from the artillery of the island. Their extraordinary adventures produced a course of inquiry on the 12th of December last, when John Brown, one of the survivors, delivered the following account upon oath, before Captain Desfontaine, president, Lieutenant B. Hodson, and Ensign Young.