Joseph Hartwell and the Voyage of the Gambia (1844-1846)
Captain Joseph Hartwell commanded a crew of nine on this two year voyage to the Fiji Islands from June of 1844 to June of 1846.
See scans below of original documents that I discovered in the National Archives and the Peabody Essex Museum's Phillips Library
See scans below of original documents that I discovered in the National Archives and the Peabody Essex Museum's Phillips Library
Crew List: 24 June 1844 (2 pages)
Source: National Archives
Outward Manifest: 24 June 1844
Source: National Archives
Log Book
Source: Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum
The Log Book of the Brig Gambia contains daily observations of the wind and weather.
Captain Hartwell in the Fiji Islands
excerpts from Life in Feejee, or Five years among the Cannibals by Mary Davis Wallis
Mary Davis Wallis was the wife of Captain Benjamin Wallis of the Barque Zotoff. She, her husband and the ship's crew were in the Fiji Islands during the same time frame as Captian Joseph Hartwell of the Brig Gambia. Below are excerpts from her book containing mentions of Captain Hartwell.
p. 24-25. Dec 7, 1844. We weighed anchor and sailed for Bau, which may with propriety be called the capital of Feejee. The island is small, being only two miles in circumference. A king and many chiefs reside there. The ruling chief is named Thakombau, although Tanoa, his father, is the nominal king, and has been a very powerful one in his time, but is now quite aged and his son bears rule. In the afternoon we received a visit from Thakombau. His Majesty was saluted by the firing of three large guns. He is tall, rather good looking, appears fully aware of his consequence, and is not destitute of dignity. He wore an enormous quantity of hair on his head, and sev eral yards of native cloth around his body; he was at tended by a crowd of his officers of state. He came on board in a very angry mood, from the following causes: — Bau, it seems, is at enmity with the king of Rewa. Capt. Hartwell, commander of the brig Gambia, of Salem, came to Rewa, engaged some Rewa men, and a white man, who has made himself particularly obnoxious to Bau, to fish for him. He then came to Bau, keeping it secret from him that he had any thing to do with Rewa, and obtained some Vewa men to go to Ba in his service. After he went, the white man from Rewa persuaded Capt. H. to send the Vewa people home, which was an imprudent act, as Vewa is one with Bau, and if the latter is insulted, they possess the power to ruin Capt. H.'s voyage. Thakombau said that Capt. H. had come here and made a fool of him, and that Capt. Wallis would do the same ; he wished them both to go to Rewa for their cargo, for he would have nothing to do with either; they were both one concern. Mr. W. told him that he had nothing to do with Capt. Hartwell's conduct, nor should he have any thing to do with the enemies of Bau. At length, after a long, conversation and many presents, he became pacified; but declared that he would go to Ba, kill the Rewa men, and burn the "beech de mer" houses. After this declaration he sent a messenger on -shore to tell his people to prepare for the hostile expedition. When the conversation was ended, His Majesty con descended to notice my humble self. He took a seat on the sofa, gazed at me, then took my hand and held it up, that his people might see how white it was (by contrast, I presume). He left the vessel about dark.
p. 136. Nov. 5, 1845. A Solavu vessel has arrived, bringing a load of yams for the bark, and very important information from Capt. Hartwell. The Gambia went from Bau to a place called Nivatu, for the purpose of fishing " beech de mer." Capt. H. received on board at Bau, a young native named Tatave, a nephew of the murdered Lasakau chief, to go with him as a hostage, and a kind of messenger from Bau. It is always desirable to have some one on board the vessels belonging to Bau when fishing in the dominions of its chiefs. In this instance, however, the man had better have been left behind. On their arrival at Nivatu, Tatave went to several towns near, and told them that it was the wish of the Bau chiefs for them to join the Nivatu people, and fish for Capt. H. It was very well so far; but he did not stop there. He told them that after they had fished a little, it was the command of the chief for them to take the vessel. One day several natives assembled on board with their faces painted black. Other indications of mischief being visible, the suspicions of the captain were excited, when he resorted to such measures as insured his safety at that time. The captain did not learn then the plans of the natives, or what Tatave had been doing. He only knew that they had assembled for mischief of some kind, and as the Nivatu people did not appear to be concerned in the affair, he kept on fishing with redoubled vigilance. Nivatu is a small island about twelve miles distant from Solavu, which is the residence of the white people who formerly lived at Levuka. It so happened that on a certain night a woman of Solavu went out to draw water, and as she was returning from the pond, she heard voices in conversation; and some words reaching her ears that excited her suspicion, she listened. The voices proceeded from two native men who had just returned from Nivatu. They were in a little "buri," nor knew they that one hearkened to their speech. They were heard to say that on the following day a canoe was to go off to the Gambia to offer several articles for sale. There were to be just double the number of natives that there were on board the Gambia. Half were to go on board first, unarmed, and engage the people in barter; while thus engaged, the other half were to fol low, one at a time, armed, and gradually mingle with the rest. On a given signal, each of the two natives were to attack and kill their man, and take possession of the brig. Their first step, however, was to kill the trading officer on shore. The woman, having listened to the whole plan, returned to her house and related the same to her husband. The next morning, as soon as there was light enough for them to see their way over the reefs, several of the white men took a vessel and started, greatly fearing that they would not reach Nivatu in time to save the vessel. The wind favored them, however, and on their arrival they found all safe. The captain was informed of his danger, and boats were immediately manned, armed, and sent to the relief of the trading mas ter on shore. When the boats reached the shore, they observed many natives, with their clubs and painted faces, walking about as though they were in waiting for something. Tatave was found and secured ; but Mr. Goodrich, the trading officer, was no where to be found. Tatave said that he was not killed, but he supposed that he had fled and hid himself in the bush. After half a day's search, he was found half dead with terror. He said that he perceived danger from the natives, and knowing that his single arm would not avail him any thing with such a host, and seeing no other way of es cape, he had fled and concealed himself.1 think that this affair originated entirely with Navinde when they were at Ba, where, as it will be recollected, an expedition was sent on Capt. Hartwell's account. Navinde and several of his people, with Verani, were on board the Gambia. A fine opportunity occurred at the time for taking possession of the vessel. Navinde pro posed that the opportunity should be improved, but Ve rani prevented him. After Mr. Goodrich was found, the boats returned to the vessel, where Tatave confessed that they intended to do as had been stated at Solavu ; but he would not tell who employed him. Soon after the captivity of Tatave, Elijah came to the vessel. Capt. Hartwell informed him of the facts that have been made known, and asked him what he should do with the prisoner. " Kill, hang him, or any thing," said Elijah, who was very angry at what he had heard. Capt. H. then ordered him to be tied to the mainmast, and receive thirty-nine lashes; this was done, and his feet were confined in irons, that he may do no more harm for the present. We have heard that one of Capt. King's trading men, on the Bau coast, has just had a narrow escape of his life, as there was a plan laid to kill him. As at home, when thieves are about, every means are used to secure our property, so these things cause us to redouble our vigilance. Our big guns have been fired off and reloaded, and are now looking saucily out of the ports, seeming to say, " Come here if you dare." The arm chests, in the fore and main top, are all ready to fight. A loaded musket stands near our bed, several loaded pistols are quietly lying in our state-room, and orders have been issued that the bell should be struck every half hour, that the natives on shore may learn that there are some on board who are not napping.
p. 136. Nov. 5, 1845. A Solavu vessel has arrived, bringing a load of yams for the bark, and very important information from Capt. Hartwell. The Gambia went from Bau to a place called Nivatu, for the purpose of fishing " beech de mer." Capt. H. received on board at Bau, a young native named Tatave, a nephew of the murdered Lasakau chief, to go with him as a hostage, and a kind of messenger from Bau. It is always desirable to have some one on board the vessels belonging to Bau when fishing in the dominions of its chiefs. In this instance, however, the man had better have been left behind. On their arrival at Nivatu, Tatave went to several towns near, and told them that it was the wish of the Bau chiefs for them to join the Nivatu people, and fish for Capt. H. It was very well so far; but he did not stop there. He told them that after they had fished a little, it was the command of the chief for them to take the vessel. One day several natives assembled on board with their faces painted black. Other indications of mischief being visible, the suspicions of the captain were excited, when he resorted to such measures as insured his safety at that time. The captain did not learn then the plans of the natives, or what Tatave had been doing. He only knew that they had assembled for mischief of some kind, and as the Nivatu people did not appear to be concerned in the affair, he kept on fishing with redoubled vigilance. Nivatu is a small island about twelve miles distant from Solavu, which is the residence of the white people who formerly lived at Levuka. It so happened that on a certain night a woman of Solavu went out to draw water, and as she was returning from the pond, she heard voices in conversation; and some words reaching her ears that excited her suspicion, she listened. The voices proceeded from two native men who had just returned from Nivatu. They were in a little "buri," nor knew they that one hearkened to their speech. They were heard to say that on the following day a canoe was to go off to the Gambia to offer several articles for sale. There were to be just double the number of natives that there were on board the Gambia. Half were to go on board first, unarmed, and engage the people in barter; while thus engaged, the other half were to fol low, one at a time, armed, and gradually mingle with the rest. On a given signal, each of the two natives were to attack and kill their man, and take possession of the brig. Their first step, however, was to kill the trading officer on shore. The woman, having listened to the whole plan, returned to her house and related the same to her husband. The next morning, as soon as there was light enough for them to see their way over the reefs, several of the white men took a vessel and started, greatly fearing that they would not reach Nivatu in time to save the vessel. The wind favored them, however, and on their arrival they found all safe. The captain was informed of his danger, and boats were immediately manned, armed, and sent to the relief of the trading mas ter on shore. When the boats reached the shore, they observed many natives, with their clubs and painted faces, walking about as though they were in waiting for something. Tatave was found and secured ; but Mr. Goodrich, the trading officer, was no where to be found. Tatave said that he was not killed, but he supposed that he had fled and hid himself in the bush. After half a day's search, he was found half dead with terror. He said that he perceived danger from the natives, and knowing that his single arm would not avail him any thing with such a host, and seeing no other way of es cape, he had fled and concealed himself.1 think that this affair originated entirely with Navinde when they were at Ba, where, as it will be recollected, an expedition was sent on Capt. Hartwell's account. Navinde and several of his people, with Verani, were on board the Gambia. A fine opportunity occurred at the time for taking possession of the vessel. Navinde pro posed that the opportunity should be improved, but Ve rani prevented him. After Mr. Goodrich was found, the boats returned to the vessel, where Tatave confessed that they intended to do as had been stated at Solavu ; but he would not tell who employed him. Soon after the captivity of Tatave, Elijah came to the vessel. Capt. Hartwell informed him of the facts that have been made known, and asked him what he should do with the prisoner. " Kill, hang him, or any thing," said Elijah, who was very angry at what he had heard. Capt. H. then ordered him to be tied to the mainmast, and receive thirty-nine lashes; this was done, and his feet were confined in irons, that he may do no more harm for the present. We have heard that one of Capt. King's trading men, on the Bau coast, has just had a narrow escape of his life, as there was a plan laid to kill him. As at home, when thieves are about, every means are used to secure our property, so these things cause us to redouble our vigilance. Our big guns have been fired off and reloaded, and are now looking saucily out of the ports, seeming to say, " Come here if you dare." The arm chests, in the fore and main top, are all ready to fight. A loaded musket stands near our bed, several loaded pistols are quietly lying in our state-room, and orders have been issued that the bell should be struck every half hour, that the natives on shore may learn that there are some on board who are not napping.