1770* ROUND THE WORLD. 249 



man in the European dress came up, but the officer 

 not having his commission about him, thought it best 

 to decline a conference. 



At seven o'clock in the evening, we came to an 

 anchor in the bay to which we had been directed, 

 at about the distance of a mile from the shore, in 

 thirty-eight fathom water, with a clear sandy bottom. 

 The north point of the bay bore N. 30 E., distant 

 two miles and a half, and the south point, or west 

 end of the island, bore S. 63 W. Just as we got 

 round the north point, and entered the bay, we dis- 

 covered a large Indian town or village, upon which 

 we stood on, hoisting a jack on the fore top-mast 

 head: soon after, to our great surprise, Dutch colours 

 were hoisted in the town, and three guns fired ; we 

 stood on, however, till we had soundings, and then 

 anchored. 



As soon as it was light in the morning, we saw the 

 same colours hoisted upon the beach, abreast of the 

 ship ; supposing therefore that the Dutch had a 

 settlement here, I sent Lieutenant Gore ashore, to 

 wait upon the Governor, or the chief person residing 

 upon the spot, and acquaint him who we were, and for 

 what purpose we had touched upon the coast. As 

 soon as he came ashore, he was received by a guard 

 of between twenty and thirty Indians, armed with 

 muskets, who conducted him to the town, where the 

 colours had been hoisted the night before, carrying 

 with them those that had been hoisted upon the 

 beach, and marching without any military regularity. 

 As soon as he arrived, he was introduced to the Raja, 

 or King of the island; and by a Portuguese interpre- 

 ter, told him, that the ship was a man of war belong- 

 ing to the King of Great Britain, and that she had 

 many sick on board, for whom we wanted to pur- 

 chase such refreshments as the island afforded. His 

 majesty replied, that he was willing to supply us 

 with whatever we wanted, but that, being in alliance 

 with the Dutch East India Company, he was not at 



