CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 103 



return to England, English trading vessels would luring 

 them the objects necessar}- to them, and also teach them to 

 build houses, and make cloth," &c. &:c. These benevolent 

 intentions were however far beyond their comprehension ; 

 and as little could they be made to understand that curiosity 

 was also one of the motives of our visit; or that a ship could 

 come such a distance for any other purpose but to trade or 

 to fight ; and for two hours they rung the changes on the 

 questions " are you come to trade," and " are you come to 

 make war." At last, however, they appeared to be convinced, 

 that I came for neither purpose ; and on my assuring them 

 that though I did not trade myself, I should not meddle even 

 with the slave traders of any nation, they expressed their 

 satisfaction by the frequent performance of sakilla, one of 

 the chief men first starting up and making gestures with his 

 arms, like a fugle man at exercise, and all the company 

 striking their chests at the termination of every motion. 

 This ceremony they afterwards repeated whenever any 

 thing was said that pleased them; and with redoubled 

 energy when I shook hands with the Chenoo. The keg 

 of spliced rum which I had brought as a part of my present 

 to the Chenoo, was now produced, together with aji 

 En dish Avhite earthen-ware Avash-hand bason covered with 

 dirt ; into which some of the liquor was poured and dis- 



