177# ROUND THE WORLD. 5209 



not wholly lost, for in many were planted some useful 

 trees or plants. It was every where the same ; change 

 of place altered not the scene. Nature, assisted by 

 a little art, no where appears in more splendor than 

 at this isle. In these delightful walks, we met numbers 

 of people ; some travelling down to the ships with 

 their burdens of fruit ; others returning back empty. 

 They all gave us the road by turning either to the 

 right or left, and sitting down, or standing, with their 

 backs to the fences, till we had passed. 



At several of the cross roads, or at the meeting of 

 two or more roads, were generally Afiatoucas, such 

 as already described ; with this difference, the 

 mounts were pallisadoed round, instead of a stone 

 wall. At length, after walking several miles, we 

 came to one larger than common ; near to which was 

 a large house belonging to an old chief in our com- 

 pany. At this house we were desired to stop, which 

 we accordingly did, and were treated with fruit, &c. 



We were no sooner seated in the house, than the 

 eldest of the priests began a speech or prayer, which 

 was first directed to the AJiatouca, and then to me, 

 and alternately. When he addressed me, he paused 

 at every sentence, till I gave a nod of approbation. 

 I, however, did not understand one single word he 

 said. At times, the old gentleman seemed to be at 

 a loss w T hat to say; or perhaps his memory failed him ; 

 for, every now and then, he was prompted by one of 

 the other priests who sat by him. Both during this 

 prayer and the former one, the people were silent, but 

 not attentive. At this last place we made but a short 

 stay. Our guides conducted us down to our boat, 

 and we returned with Attago to our ship to dinner. 

 We had no sooner got on board, than an old gentle- 

 man came along-side, who, I understood from Attago, 

 was some king or great man. He was, accordingly, 

 ushered on board ; when I presented him with such 

 things as he most valued (being the only method to 

 make him my friend}, and seated him at table to 



VOL. III. p 



