1844.] SULTAN INEBRIATED. 195 



was much inclined to do so, but, as Mr. Brooke suggested, 

 the probability of his influence being too weak to protect 

 us from insult, and having already indulged too freely 

 with wine at our tiffin, we declined the honour for the 

 present. In all such cases I am of opinion, that the less 

 distrust is exhibited, the more influence you obtain over the 

 party into whose hands you give yourself ; and by adopting 

 this principle in my intercourse with the uncivilized regions 

 of Africa, America and the Pacific, I have generally suc- 

 ceeded in gaining the confidence and friendship of the na- 

 tives. Before quitting Tampassook, however, we had reason, 

 in this instance, to approve of Mr. Brooke's judgment; the 

 Sultan was not only too much inebriated to be respected 

 by his own party, but his earnest entreaties for Rum to 

 complete his debauchery, evinced to what a pitch of 

 absurdity we might have been reduced ; as once in his 

 power, courtesy, or policy, might have induced us to 

 accede to his request, which we now were in a con- 

 ditition to decline ; so leaving him in his glory, we bid 

 adieu, and returned to the ' Phlegethon.' 



The ' Samarang ' having weighed by previous signal, 

 was now taken in tow, and about 9 o'clock the same 

 evening dropped anchor off the small group of Man- 

 tanani, where we employed our boats examining the 

 dangers, and fixing their position during the time which 

 we required to complete our several despatches for 

 England. It was clear to the mind of Mr. Brooke, as well 

 as myself, that the report of the European female was 

 unfounded ; but at the same time it afforded me great 

 satisfaction to be able, in my despatch to the Governor of 

 the Straits, to inform him, that the enquiry had been 



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