13' 



\o\AGE IN SEARCH 



ag for any thing, we liad no other anfwer 

 than trada ; and it was the miitrcfs of this little 

 habitation who thus expreffed her haying no- 

 thing that we wifhed for : we took good care to 

 allure her, that we fhould pay punctually tor 

 every thing with which fhe fhouid fan ;h us. 

 We were the more aftonifbcd at this pic I Gilded 

 fcarcity, as the appearance of thefe inhabitants 

 befpoke abundance. I learnt in .the lrquel, 

 that thefe peaceable natives have not always rca- 

 fon to congratulate themlelves on the pro* 

 ings of the Europeans, who arc the mallei > in 

 their ifland. They coniidered themfelves juili- 

 fied in not trufting to our promifes: however, 

 fome glades of arrack, and a few articles of hard- 

 ware, which wc opportunely diftributcd among 

 them, procured us thiir confidence. 



They invited us to fit down under the fhed 

 formed by a continuation of the roof of the 

 houfc: the cray-tilhcs of the little river were let 

 before us in profufion. They roaikd for us 

 fweet potatoes and yams, and our beverage was the 

 flightly fermented wine of the fago palm. This 

 liquor, which when newly extracted from the 

 tree is called fagouer mouda and iierfagucro mouda, 

 m much more agreeable than cocoa-nat juice. 

 The young girl, who took the trouble of pre- 

 paring our rcpaft, joined to a very agreeable face, 

 and a charming perfon, an air of franknefs which 



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