DAMPIER'S SOJOURN IN GREAT NICOBAR 263 



it to us, knowing it was a good commodity with the Indians. 

 It was now dark, therefore we lighted a candle, and I, being the 

 oldest stander in our new country, conducted them into one of 

 the houses, where we did presently hang up our hammocks. We 

 had scarce done this before the canoe came ashore again, and 

 brought the four Malayan men belonging to Achin (which we took 

 in the prau we took off Sumatra), and the Portuguese that came 

 to our ship out of the Siam junk at Pulo Condore : the crew 

 having no occasion for these, being leaving the Malayan parts 

 where the Portuguese spark served as an interpreter ; and not 

 fearing now that the Achinese could be serviceable to us in 

 bringing us over to their country, 40 leagues off; not imagining 

 we durst make such an attempt ; as, indeed, it was a bold one. 

 Now we were men enough to defend ourselves against the 

 natives of the island, if they should prove our enemies ; though 

 if none of these men had come ashore to me, I should not have 

 feared any danger. Nay, perhaps less, because I should have 

 been cautious of giving any offence to the natives : and I am of 

 the opinion that there are no people in the world so barbarous 

 as to kill a single person that falls accidentally into their hands, 

 or comes to live among them, except they have been injured by 

 some outrage or violence committed against them. Yet, even 

 then, or afterwards, if a man could but preserve his life from 

 their first rage, and come to treat with them (which is the hardest 

 thing, because their way is usually to abscond, and rushing 

 suddenly on their enemy, to kill him unawares), one might by some 

 slight, insinuate oneself into their favours again. Especially 

 by showing some toy or knack that they did never see before, 

 which any European that hath seen the world might soon contrive 

 to amuse them withal : as might be done generally with a little 

 fire struck with a flint and steel. . . . 



'' As for these Nicobar people, I found them affable enough, 

 and therefore I did not fear them ; but I did not much care 

 whether I had gotten any more company or no. 



" But, however, I was very well satisfied, and the rather 

 because we were now men enough to row ourselves over to 



