Deposition of Captain Boyce, of the schooner Atlas., November 14, 1863.

Deposition of Captain Boyce, of the schooner Atlas.

I left Table bay on the 13th August, with a crew consisting of nine men, including myself, all the men of the former and previous voyages. Arrived at Pomona island on the 20th same month, where we anchored. Left the vessel on the 22d in a whale-boat to Halifax, leaving the vessel in charge of the first mate, Matley. Joined the vessel again at Angra Pequena on the 27th August. At Pomona, or rather on the main land, left certain articles for the use of Captain Sinclair and his party, working a copper mine. There was nothing taken on board before joining the vessel at Angra Pequena. From the last-mentioned place I took the vessel to Halifax, where I loaded a cargo of guano. At Angra Pequena there was no other European than Captain Bruce, who is a trader in the interior. I took a wooden house down to Angra Pequena for Bruce, but had no time to put it up, and when I left it was still lying on the beach. At Halifax I took in a cargo of guano for the first vessel to be chartered to carry guano away from the island, large vessels not being able to get near Halifax, this mode of loading being adopted by means of small boats. The Earl of Mar and Kelly arrived at Angra Pequena on the 12th September, when we put on board the guano I had in the Atlas, and then proceeded with her to Ichaboe and finally filled the vessel, the Earl of Mar and Kelly, at the island of Mercury, on the 22d October. She then proceeded on her voyage to Leith, and I made the best of my way back, calling at the different islands, and at Angra Pequena, which last-mentioned place Bruce had left, and found no other European on the main land. On my way back, on the 29th October, (having left Pomona on the 28th,) I was boarded by the Vanderbilt, United States steamer. Besides my own crew I had then on board Mr. Goodman and six others, five being miners, and the other the man in charge of the Ichaboe island. The miners are all discharged, and the other returns with me to Ichaboe, An officer of the steamer came on board. He called me by name, as Captain Boyce, and demanded my papers. I gave them up, and he thoroughly examined them. He then asked me what I had done with the cargo, according to the manifest and store list, from the custom-house, Cape Town. I told him that the cargo had been delivered to the parties to whom the same was consigned. He then left the cabin and went down the hold; I accompanied him. He looked about, came on deck, and demanded my log-book, which I produced, and which was examined by him. He then asked me about the vessels on the coast, about the Isabel and Alehtia—the latter taking in a cargo of guano at Ichaboe, by means of the Isabel—and he then left the vessel. Before doing so, however, he asked about some coals at Penguin island, one of the islands in Angra Pequena, when I told him that I had seen some coals. During all the time the officer was on board, I never lost sight of him, to the best of my belief; at all events, I am certain that no other party could have spoken to him without my knowledge. I am quite certain that no person on board did or could have produced or read to him any other paper or document than produced by me, and which were the ship’s papers. While in the cabin a conversation may have taken place with the boat’s crew, of which I know nothing. I don’t think any of the boat’s crew came on board, but of that I am not certain, as it may have happened while I was below with the officer.

On my way back I found the bark Saxon at Angra Pequena, on the 27th October. I supplied her with one barrel of pork and one of beef, and also gave her three men, George Fuller Martin, and Daniel Hunter, and Oloff Larken, to assist in anything he might have to do. I am not aware what the Saxon was doing at Angra Pequena, nor do I know how long she had been there. I did not go on shore, and the first time I went on shore I did not see any stores or other goods excepting what I brought for Captain Bruce, either on the beach or at any other place near it.

None of my papers were taken away, nor did the officer sign the same, as is usual in such cases. Being ignorant how to act on such occasions, I did not protest against these proceedings, as I should have done.

THOMAS BOYCE.

Before me,