1770. ROUND THE WORLD. 255 



merit to Mr. Lange, who had now another subter- 

 fuge ; he said, that if we had gone down to the 

 beach ourselves, we might have purchased what we 

 pleased ; but that the natives were afraid to take mo- 

 ney of our people, lest it should be counterfeit. We 

 could not but feel some indignation against a man 

 who had concealed this, being true ; or alleged it, 

 being false. I started up, however, and went imme- 

 diately to the beach, but no cattle or sheep were to 

 be seen, nor were any at hand to be produced. 

 While I was gone, Lange, who knew well enough 

 that I should succeed no better than my people, told 

 Mr. Banks that the natives were displeased at our not 

 having offered them gold for their stock ; and that if 

 gold was not offered, nothing would be bought. 

 Mr. Banks did not think it worth his while to reply, 

 but soon after rose up, and we all returned on board, 

 very much dissatisfied with the issue of our negoci- 

 ations. During the course of the day, the king had 

 promised that some cattle and sheep should be 

 brought down in the morning, and had given a rea- 

 son for our disappointment somewhat more plausi- 

 ble ; he said that the buffaloes were far up the coun- 

 try, and that there had not been time to bring them 

 down to the beach. 



The next morning we went ashore again : Dr. So- 

 lander went up to the town to speak to Lange, and I 

 remained upon the beach, to see what could be done 

 in the purchase of provisions. I found here an old 

 Indian, who, as he appeared to have some authority, 

 we had among ourselves called the prime minister ; 

 to engage this man in our interest, I presented him 

 with a spying-glass, but I saw nothing at market ex- 

 cept one small buffalo. I enquired the price of it, 

 and was told five guineas : this was twice as 

 much as it was worth ; however, I offered three, 

 which I could perceive the man who treated with me 

 thought a good price ; but he said he must acquaint 

 the king with what I had offered before he could 



