Virginia Argus

The following are some particulars of the melancholy fate that has attended the crew of the ship Boyd, which sailed from Botany Bay to New Zealand, in consequence of an agreement made by the captain with one of the Chiefs of New Zealand (who happened to be at Botany Bay) to purchase timber to take to England.

On the arrival of the vessel, the captain was invited on shore, and attended the Chief with part of the ship's company, in the boat. Nothing particular transpired on this occasion: but the Chief returned on board the ship attended by a number of canoes full of men.—They were permitted to examine the ship, as a matter of curiosity. Tappohee, the Chief, was treated with great respect: and having continued on board some time, he got into his boat, for the purpose, as it was supposed, of meeting the captain of the ship, who he said, had gone to see the timber. Instead however, of leaving the ship, he gave a yell, which was a signal for the massacre of the whole ship's company.

There were about 30 in all, 20 of whom they tore limb from limb, and regaled themselves upon the flesh of the unfortunate victims. About ten of the men, to save their lives, climbed the masts, and two women passengers and a lad ran down below: the Chief hailed the men, and told them they had not all they wanted, having plundered the ship, and that if they would come down their lives should be spared.—The deluded men obeyed, and fell, like their comrades, a sacrifice to the inordinate and brutal appetites of the cannibals. The two female passengers and the boy were taken on shore, and the ship was burnt. The captain and men on shore were never heard of.—The rival Chief Pari, situated at a different part of the Island, hearing of the affair, expressed his sorrow on the occasion to the Captain of the City of Edinburgh, who was at the Island for timber, and prepared to accompany him with an armed force to release the women and the boy, in which they fully succeeded, and the latter arrived safe on board the City of Edinburgh, at the Cape.