PROFESSOR SiMlTHS JOURNAL. 209 



great doubts were entertained as to the real object of our 

 visit, and that, since we did not profess to trade, it could 

 be attributed to nothing else than a hostile intention. The 

 Captain ordered him briefly to explain the object of the 

 expedition : but this they could not at all comprehend. 

 When any thing occurred in the conversation that struck 

 them, one of the nobles rose, and with attitudes resembling 

 those of a fugle-man, gave the signal for the sacala ; on 

 which all smote themselves on their breasts with an expres- 

 sion of )03\ 



As a first present a cask of brandy was brought forward. 

 This they comprehended well enough ; and having poured 

 it into a large Avashing bowl, they fought among themselves 

 for the nectar. The king and his ministers soon after went 

 away, and we were shortly invited into a spacious straw- 

 hut, which, like all the rest, could not be said to be encum- 

 bered with too much furniture. We observed in it, how- 

 ever, a number of small fetishes. Here we were entertained 

 with a dish of boiled fowl and with palm Avine in mugs of 

 English manufacture. The sailors dined after us. We 

 took a walk in the town and were allowed to enter into 

 every enclosure. Tudor and Galwey found here the 

 daughter of the Macage of Loomba, which is a market- 

 place, where they had been the day before, and made some 

 bargains in favour of their other friends. The women are 

 considered in the lidit of merchandise; and a husband 

 generally takes care to make an European pay dear for 

 his bargain. If any of his countrymen, however, should 

 violate his wife without his knowledge, he is permitted to 



