A Narrative of the Shipwreck, Captivity and Sufferings of Horace Holden and Benj. H. Nute; Who were cast Away in the American Ship Mentor, on the Pelew Islands, in the Year 1832

Boston: Russell,Shattuck, and Co, 1836. Hardcover. Very Good+. Hardcover. Linda and Roy's collection. Fourth Edition of this enthralling account of the experiences of Holden and his fellow seaman Nute after their capture in Paleu (Palau) in Micronesia. The title page continues: "and for Two Years Afterwards were Subjected to Unheard of Sufferings Among the Barbarous Inhabitants of Lord North's Island." The island, also known as Nevil's Island or Johnston's Island, was long described as uninhabited until Horsburg's 1827 India Directory correctly said it was inhabited by between 300-400 people. The preface states that Holden and Nute were detained as captives (truncated) for two years and acquired the natives' language allowing them to converse with ease and to have the means of knowing and observing many things that would escape the passing voyager. He nonetheless described the inhabitants as rude and miserable, and stated that it was impossible to convey a correct idea of their ignorance, poverty, and degradation. In the book, Holden gives thanks to the many benevolent individuals who executed their release and made donations and gifts that made them comfortable and whole. Following the narrative, Holden provides an appendix with the vocabulary of the island's natives.

Bound in three quarter dark reddish brown leather with lovely multicolored marbled paper covers. Titling and gilt rulings to spine. Text pages are spotted and browned but still quite legible. With frontis illustration of natives being tattooed and one text illustration showing the escape of the captives to the ship Britannia. A tear to the lower margin of the book's last page of 133 not affecting text. A very good copy of this narrative in a new fine binding. Measures 4 x 6.25 inches. 133 pages. TRAVEL/050825. (Inventory #: 37917)