Kidnapping in the Pacific: or, The Adventures of Boas Ringdon

The old fellow thus brought his yarn to a close. I am able to corroborate most of his statements, observed my young friend, for we visited many of the places he speaks of, and from the information we received I am convinced that he in no way overdraws the atrocious practices of many of the sandal-wood traders, or fellows engaged in kidnapping the natives of the Pacific Islands. The villainous doings of the African slave trade is an old story and known to all, but as far as I can judge they do not surpass those of the kidnappers of the Pacific at the present day. In the one case the white men merely received slaves captured by their own countrymen, and conveyed them across to the American coast; but in the Pacific we find white men, in some instances, depopulating whole islands, and capturing indiscriminately by fraud or violence, the natives of others, although nominally to labour as free men, yet in reality to be reduced to a condition little superior to real bondage.

After I had heard old Ringdon’s narrative, I felt more anxious than ever to get hold of some of these kidnapping gentlemen. When, three days afterwards, the ship standing in took me and the boat’s crew off, and I told the captain what I had heard, he sent to try to induce Ringdon to come on board, and give further information which might help us in capturing some of his former acquaintances, but the old fellow was not to be moved. Indeed, I suspect that should he have the opportunity, he would be very willing, for a sufficient consideration, to act as agent to any kidnapping skipper who might think fit to employ him.

I might mention several naval officers as well as consuls, missionaries, and respectable merchants at Sydney, Brisbane, and elsewhere, who would acknowledge that the main features of the account I have given are perfectly true, however much they might be inclined to doubt the word in ordinary matters of the old seaman who gave them to me.

It should be clearly understood that old Ringdon’s narrative refers to times gone by. The Governments of Queensland and the Fiji Islands, now annexed to England have passed enactments for the prevention of the atrocious proceedings he describes. At the same time, as there are numerous lawless white men living on the heathen islands of the Pacific similar in character to Ringdon who would be ready to ill-treat the helpless natives if they should have the opportunity, it is important for the cause of humanity that men-of-war should continually cruise among them to preserve order and to punish delinquents.

The End.