GAUARONGA, THE GREAT CHIEF 183 



Captain Lucas and Mr Talbot were to go together 

 on a ceremonial visit of farewell to Gauaronga, for 

 they hoped that greater privileges would be accorded 

 them when they were without us women. So it was, 

 they were received in the audience-chamber instead 

 of in the yard, as we had been ; and, greatest honour 

 of all, the Sultan removed his huge goggles. They 

 sat in friendly converse, mutually pleased with each 

 other, and presently the Sultan invited them to have 

 a cup of tea with him. 



Before the men had started some instinct had 

 prompted Mrs Talbot and me, each severally, without 

 word spoken to the other, to beg Mr Talbot not 

 to accept anything to eat or drink from the hands 

 of his royal host. He accepted our warning, but 

 thought it absurd. Gauaronga produced from his 

 chest, and put into the pot, equal proportions of tea 

 and sugar and some slices of fresh lime, after which 

 there was very little room for the water. However, 

 they all drank and pronounced it a surprisingly ex- 

 cellent mixture. 



The visit was a long one, for they were interested 

 in hearing of each other's countries and habits of life, 

 and it was late before Mr Talbot returned to us. 

 When he did so he had brought in his pocket some 

 dates, which he thought it would interest us to taste, 

 though they were not indigenous to the place, but 

 had come across the desert. We all took them : 

 Mrs Talbot ate three ; and, as I do not like the 

 fruit, I tasted one only, out of curiosity. We had 

 first, however, taken care to ask whether they were 

 perfectly safe, and were fully satisfied with the 

 answer that Gauaronga and Captain Lucas had also 



