1845.] RANSOM ABOLISHED. 257 



a very awkward situation, although strongly asserting his 

 innocence, in which no one, however, believed. 



Fully aware that I had gained my object, as well as 

 the satisfaction of having afforded them a wholesome 

 warning that all such transactions will, in future, be 

 narrowly inquired into, and punished ; and further, being 

 unwilling to disturb the warm feelings which appeared 

 at present to be entertained towards our country, I inti- 

 mated to the Sultan, that with respect to Si-Dawut, I con- 

 sidered the loss of six hundred dollars ample punishment ; 

 and as the British Government would never permit such 

 a subject as ransom to be named, I expected the formal 

 release of all demands on account of these Lascars. 



The Sultan immediately declared them free, and further 

 engaged to secure the repayment of the six hundred 

 dollars, in goods, by Si-Dawut, or the Sultan of Gunung 

 Taboor, with whom he would hold further communica- 

 tion, until he ascertained the truth, when Si-Dawut, if 

 guilty, will probably pay for his misdeeds. 



Having thus fully completed the object of our mis- 

 sion, and the monthly magnetic term day having arrived, 

 we began to look around for some convenient spot 

 where these observations might be satisfactorily made. 

 Under the present excited state of the populace, it was 

 not considered either safe, or politic, to erect tents, and 

 land armed men to protect us from the visits of those 

 who might be inclined to be troublesome, or disposed to 

 approach too near with their iron implements of war ; it 

 was therefore proposed by my kind friend Datoo Danielle, 

 (and with the permission of the Sultan) that I should make 

 these observations within his grounds, which were enclosed 



