HOSPITALITY. 253 



ing this a freak of my palate, I mentioned it to 

 my companions as singular: several of them said 

 that such was precisely the case with them, and they 

 preferred it to the other fruit. After several hours 

 spent in rambling, we returned to the house for the 

 purpose of procuring a draught of water, which was 

 drawn from a well by means of a h3'draulic pump, 

 and which, by the way, was the only spot where I 

 procured a good, cool drink of water in New Holland. 

 We were again attacked by the old lady, who, to 

 some extent, apologizing for her brusqueness in the 

 morning, very plainly intimated that, for a suitable 

 return, she could supply us with a repast. Like most 

 sailors, having receptacles capable of and requiring 

 more substantial food than fruit after our exercise, 

 we closed with her very liberal ofl'er, and were soon 

 seated at a table furnished with excellent edibles, 

 bread andbutter, milk, jam, and otherarticles, making 

 together a tirst rate supper. On our taking leave 

 we gave to each of the underlings who had been 

 attentive to us some tobacco. They informed us 

 that their master had been unavoidably called away 

 from home on business, and stated that had he been 

 present we should have passed a very pleasant day. 

 Giving the gentleman the benefit of this assertion, 

 we took leave of his estate, embarked in our boat, 

 and directed her head towards Bunbury. We reached 

 the ship at nightfall and were pretty well wearied 

 with our jaunt. Those of our shipmates who had 

 remained aboard, had prophesied in the morning the 

 miscarriage of our proposed pleasure ; but as we kept 

 our own counsel, they were none the wiser of our ex- 

 perience of old English hospitality, and they expressed 

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