PROFESSOR SMITH’S JOURNAL. 299 
great doubts were entertained as to the real object of our 
visit, and that, since we did not profess to trade, it could 
be attributed to nothing else than a hostile intention. ‘The 
Captain ordered him briefly to explain the object of the 
expedition ; but this they could not at all comprehend. 
When any thing occurred in the conversation that struck 
them, one of the nobles rose, and with attitudes resembling 
those of a fugle-man, gave the signal for the sacala; on 
which all smote themselves on their breasts with an expres- 
sion of joy. 
As a first presenta cask of brandy was brought forward. 
This they comprehended well enough ; and having poured 
it into a large washing bowl, they fought among themselves 
for the nectar. The king and his ministers soon after went 
away, and we were shortly invited into a spacious straw- 
hut, which, like all the rest, could not be said to be encum- 
bered with too much furniture. We observed in it, how-- 
ever, a number of small fetishes. Here we were entertained 
with a dish of boiled fowl and with palm wine in mugs of 
English manufacture. The sailors dined after us. We 
took a walk in the town and were allowed to enter into 
every enclosure. Tudor and Galwey found here the 
daughter of the Macage of Loomba, which is a market- 
place, where they had been the day before, and made some 
bargains in favour of their other friends. ‘The women are 
considered in the light of merchandise; and a husband 
generally takes care to make an European pay dear for 
his bargain. If any of his countrymen, however, should 
violate his wife without his knowledge, he is permitted to 
