177^' ROUND THE WORLD. 251 



we had but one left, however that was presented to 

 him : the facility with which this was procured, en- 

 couraged him to ask for an English dog, and Mr. 

 Banks politely gave up his greyhound : Mr Lange 

 then intimated that a spying-glass would be accept- 

 able, and one was immediately put into his hand. 

 Our guests then told us, that the island abounded 

 with buffaloes, sheep, hogs, and fowls, plenty of 

 which should be driven down to the beach the next 

 day, that we might purchase as many of them as we 

 should think fit : this put us all into high spirits, and 

 the liquor circulated rather faster than either the 

 Indians or the Saxon could bear ; they intimated 

 their desire to go away, however, before they were 

 quite drunk, and were received upon deck, as they 

 had been when they came aboard, by the marines 

 under arms. The King expressed a curiosity to see 

 them exercise, in which he was gratified, and they 

 fired three rounds : he looked at them with great 

 attention, and was much surprised at their regularity 

 and expedition, especially in cocking their pieces ; 

 the first time they did it, he struck the side of the 

 ship with a stick that he had in his hand, and cried 

 out with great vehemence, that all the locks made but 

 one clink. They were dismissed with many presents, 

 and when they went away saluted with nine guns : 

 Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander went ashore with them ; 

 and as soon as they put off they gave us three cheers. 

 Our gentlemen, when they came ashore, walked 

 up with them to the town, which consists of many 

 houses, and some of them are large ; they are how- 

 ever nothing more than a thatched roof, supported 

 over a boarded floor by pillars about four feet high. 

 They produced some of their palm-wine, which was 

 the fresh unfermented juice of the tree ; it had a 

 sweet, but not a disagreeable taste ; and hopes 

 were conceived that it might contribute to recover 

 our sick from the scurvy. Soon after it was dark, 

 Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander returned on board. 



