The Peruvian Slavers by Louis Becke
The narrative unfolds in the Ellice Islands, where a trader named Harry, known as Big Harry, leaves his family to seek fortune in the Pelew Islands, driven by tales of rich resources. He bids farewell to his wife, Te Ava Malu, and their two daughters, Fetu and Vailele, leaving behind a stash of money for their future. As Harry embarks on his journey, the story shifts to a group of Peruvian slavers who plan to capture the island's inhabitants for forced labor. The slavers, led by Captain Martinas and the ruthless Senor Arguello, devise a scheme to ambush the unsuspecting natives. They arrive at Nukufetau under the guise of traders, luring the locals aboard their ships with promises of goods. The slavers' plan quickly turns violent as they seize the natives, leading to a brutal confrontation. An old native man, Mana, attempts to warn his people but is killed in the chaos. The two daughters, Fetu and Vailele, narrowly escape; Vailele dives into the sea, while Fetu is captured. The villagers flee to safety, but many are taken by the slavers. In the aftermath, Fetu finds herself among the captives, enduring the horrors of the slave ship. Meanwhile, Vailele manages to reach the shore and alerts the villagers, who attempt to escape the slavers' grasp. The narrative highlights the brutality of the slavers and the desperate plight of the captured natives. Two years later, Fetu escapes during a transfer to another ship, eventually finding refuge in Liverpool. There, she is taken in by a kind merchant and his wife, who help her recover from her ordeal. In a twist of fate, Big Harry, having survived his own trials, arrives in Liverpool searching for his daughter. Unbeknownst to him, Fetu is nearby, and their reunion is marked by joy and relief. The story concludes with the family reunited, returning to their home in Nukufetau, symbolizing hope and resilience in the face of adversity. The narrative serves as a poignant commentary on the impact of colonial exploitation and the enduring bonds of family.
By Louis Becke · First published 1887 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama · 5,630 words
First lines
About north-west from turbulent and distracted Samoa lie a group of eight low-lying coral atolls, called the Ellice Islands. Fifty years ago, when the white cotton canvas of the ships of the American whaling fleet dotted the blue of the Pacific from the west coast of South America to the bleak and snow-clad shores of the Siberian coast, these lonely islands were perhaps better known than they are now, for then, when the smoky flames of the whaleships' try works lit up the night-darkened expanse of the ocean, and the crackling of the furnace fires and the bubble of the boiling oil made the hardy whalemen's hearts grow merry, many a white man, lured by the gentle nature and amiable character of the Ellice Islanders, had built his house of thatch under the shadow of the rustling palms, and dwelt there in peace and happiness and overflowing plenty. Some of them were traders -- men who bartered their simple wares, such as red Turkey twill, axes, knives, beads, tobacco, pipes, and muskets, for coconut oil and turtle shell. Others were wild, good-for-nothing runaways from whaleships, who then were generally known as "beach-combers" -- that is, combing the beach for a living -- though that, indeed, was a misnomer, for in those days, except one of these men was either a murderer or a tyrant, he did not "comb" for his living, but simply lived a life of luxurious, sensuous ease among the copper-coloured people with whom he dwelt. He had, indeed, to be of a hard and base nature to incur the ill-will or hostility of the denizens of the eight islands.
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The Peruvian Slavers is listed on Textopian as a short story by Louis Becke, dated 1887 CE.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Louis Becke
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama, Social Commentary, Romance
- Length: 5,630 words
- Structure: 1 section, 85 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a specific historical context involving the Peruvian slave trade and the impact on the Ellice Islands, blending factual events with fictional characters.
- Adventure — The plot involves the journey of characters through perilous situations, including the capture and escape of natives, which is characteristic of adventure narratives.
- Drama — The story explores intense emotional themes such as family separation, loss, and survival, which are central to dramatic literature.
- Social Commentary — The book critiques colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous peoples, reflecting on moral and ethical issues related to slavery.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Adventure · Slavery · Peru · Colonialism · Exploitation · Power Struggle · Resistance · Rebellion · Social Commentary · Cultural Clash · Imperialism