ARRIVAL OF THE PRIMA DONNA AT AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3602, 28 May 1873, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE PRIMA DONNA AT AUCKLAND.

EXTRAORDINARY NARRATIVE. TWO MEN ON AN UNINHABITED ISLAND FOB TWO YEARS. — THT. ACCOUNT AUTHENTICATED. Br the arrival of the schooner Prima Donna from Rotoronga, last evening, we have been placed in possession of the following very sensational intelligence by Captain Norris, which was told to h : >n by Mr. Chafe, who was residing with the Rev. Mr. Chalmers, at Rorotonga, when the Prima Donna -eft. Mr. Chafe sa;,s that he left Starbuck Island for the purpose of proceeding to Maiden Island to get a supply of provisions, he being afraid that the vessel trading there would not arrive in time to keep thorn from starving. Ee manned a boat with six natives aud started, and after a passage of nine days, they found themselves off Pearlyn Island. In landing here the boat was capsized, and they all had a very narrow escape from drowning. They were on this island for some time, as the natives would not venture any further. A native of the island then offered to go with Mr. Chafe, and so off they started, and on the sixth day after starting they were capsized in a squall, but they managed to get the oars and mast under her, and by these means they were enabled to bail her out, but all the provisions were lost. On they went again, and the third day after their boat was smashed on a reuf six ::>iles from an island, which was ii'tenvards found to be Suwarrow Island. The only thing growing on this reef was small island - grass. The c-econd day they had been on the reef Mr. Chafe persuaded the native to swim to the island, and try and find some means to rescue him. Six days after the native left Mr. Chafe found himself getting very weak, and there being no signs of the native returning, he determined to attempt to Bwiui to the island or drown. He followed the reef until he found a channel some two and a half miles wide. There were a great number of sharks in the water, who kept rushing at him, but off lie went, the sharks being in the rear. The tide drifted liirn about two miles seaward, but turned and brought him t: :k again, and he theu managed to get a footing on the opposite side. By dint of walking and crawling, he managed to get round a reef, until close to the island. He observed a number of cocoanut trees, which sight revived and stimulated him for further exertions. After another short swim he landed on dry land once more, suffering intense pain from the cuts and bruises he had sustained whilst on the reef. After having a rest he commenced to climb a plantain tree, for the purpose of endeavouring to get some cocoauuts before he got too stiff to do it. So up be started, and succeeded in getting within ten feet of the nuts ; but he could get no further, when all at once a voice called out the following to him: •' Halloa, what you do dar; you oome down." And down he did come, only too glad to hear a human voice once more. On gaining the ground nature was exhausted, and he fell and lay there for some time like one dead. Ho was finally brought to by the native, who gave him coeoanut milk, which revived him very much. Mr. Chafe was a cripple for Bome weeks from the wounds he had received whilst knocking about the reefs, and from the exposure to the weather. There was a small canoe on the island, but the native would not go to the trouble of taking it and going to the reef for Mr. Chafe, for the following reason : fle said that when he got to the island he went to Bleep, and when he awoke a white man and some natives came to him, and told him to look after the island, and not to go away as he was to take charge of tho island for them, —he waß to eat the nuts, as they were for him. After he had been told this, the white man vanished into the Bky and the blacks into the ground. This was all the reason that Mr. Chafe could obtain from the native for not taking the canoe and rescuing him off the reef. Mr. Chafe and the native then set to and built a house, planted trees and did other works, and they remaiued on the island for a period of two years, during which time they had no other subsistence than the cocoanuts, and scarce enough of them. The native was very disagreeable during their Btay on the island, and kept Mr. Chafe in constant fear of his life. A small schooner happened to call at the island, and Mr. Chafe and the native were taken away in her to Autu, close to Rorotonga, where Captain Trayte of the schooner Edith took Mr. Chafe cn to Rorotonga, where he was taken care of by the Sev. Mr. Chalmers, until means could be found to return him to Starbuck Island., The Rev. Mr. Chalmers and his lady will long be remembered by all that visit this island, and are well worthy to be called " missionaries."