1844.] INTERVIEW WITH THE SULTAN. 217 



elegantly habited in scarlet and gold embroidery, advanced 

 to meet me, and with an affectionate embrace, bid me 

 welcome to his territory of Gunung Taboor. He informed 

 me, that he had received my Ambassador, the Hadji, 

 from Sooloo, and had sent his own messenger with him 

 to conduct us up; they had, however, unfortunately, 

 missed us. 



We now entered upon the business of our visit, but be- 

 fore relating any discussion with the Sultan, it will be as 

 well to state the amount of evidence deposed to by the 

 six Lascars which had arrived at Manila, as it was upon 

 their depositions that my investigation was conducted, and 

 I am bound to acknowledge that the replies of the Sultan 

 to every point enquired into, were perfect ; I found, in- 

 deed, that he had kept a journal, in which was entered 

 the receipt or delivery of every article saved from the 

 wreck, as well as the conversations had with the Captain 

 of the ' Premier.' There could be no doubt as to the 

 genuine cordiality of our reception, it was eagerly kind, 

 and the anxiety of the Sultan to prove his friendship was 

 manifested in every possible manner. 



EXTRACT FROM NOTES TAKEN AT EXAMINATION OF LASCARS. 



" The ' Premier ' struck at 11 o'clock at night ; they got one anchor 

 out astern, the cable parted ; they continued to work until 10 o'clock 

 the next day : the Captain then fired guns, went round and examined 

 the ship, there was a hole in the bow, and the water poured in fast. 

 At this time no prahus were seen. The boats were got out, and such 

 things as could be saved put into them. At 3 o'clock, P.M., they 

 quitted her, and landed on the nearest island. 



" The Captain, Chief-mate, Carpenter, and three boys, stayed to set 

 fire to the ship, they made use of a dammer (resin) butt, which they 

 placed on the main-deck, near the main-mast, between decks, arid 



