CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 107 



goat's flesh, a fowl cut in pieces and broiled, and roasted 

 plantains in lieu of bread ; a large silver tankard filled with 

 sweet palm Avine, and a bottle of the rum I had brought, 

 Avere placed as our beverage. 



While we were at table, I learnt that the Chenoo held a 

 palaver in another part of the tenement, where Simmons 

 was most strictly questioned with respect to the motives of 

 our visit, and obliged to swear in the most solemn manner 

 of the country, to the truth of his assertion. This palaver 

 being finished, the Chenoo sent to me, to say that he would 

 again speak to me ; and ^ve accordingly were all seated in 

 the audience court as before, with the addition of an 

 old man, who, we were told, was the Chenoo's uncle, and 

 who seemed to be a chief counsellor. After again tiring me 

 with questions as to my motives, the old man, starting 

 up, plucked a leaf from a tree, and holding it to me, said, if 

 you come to trade, swear by your God, and break the leaf; 

 on my refusing to do so, he then said, swear by your God 

 you don't come to make war, and break the leaf; on 

 my doing which, the whole company performed a grand sa- 

 hilla, and the assembly broke up ; the King retiring into an 

 inner hut, where the present I had brought Avas carried ;* 

 for on my first telling him that I had brought him a present 



* It consisted of a piece of furniture cotton, some beads^ a plated tanliard and 

 goblet, and a silk umbrcli;i. 



