SEPT. 1770 RECEPTION AT SAVU 333 



fruit, fowls, etc. They talked much of the Portuguese and 

 of Larntuca on the Island of Ende, 1 from which circumstance 

 it was probable that the Portuguese were somewhere on the 

 island, though none of the natives could speak more than a 

 word or two of the language. Our conclusion was strength- 

 ened as one of the Indians, in speaking of the town, made a 

 sign of something we should see there by crossing his fingers, 

 which a Portuguese, who was in the boat, immediately in- 

 terpreted into a cross, a supposition which appeared very 

 probable. Just before they put off the man in an European 

 dress came towards them, but the officer in the boat, not 

 having his commission about him, thought proper to put off 

 immediately without staying to speak to him, or know what 

 countryman he was. 



We sailed along shore, and after having passed a point 

 of land found a bay sheltered from the trade wind, in which 

 we soon discovered a large Indian town or village, on which 

 we stood in, hoisting a Jack. To our no small surprise 

 Dutch colours were hoisted in the town, and three guns 

 fired ; we, however, proceeded, and just at dark got soundings, 

 and anchored about one and a half miles from the shore. 



18th. In the morning the boat with the second lieu- 

 tenant went ashore and was received by a guard of twenty 

 or thirty Indians armed with muskets, who conducted them 

 to the town, about a mile in the country, marching without 

 any order or regularity, and carrying away with them the 

 Dutch colours, which had been hoisted upon the beach 

 opposite to where the ship lay. Here he was introduced to 

 the Eadja or Indian king, whom he told through a Portu- 

 guese interpreter that we were an English man-of-war, which 

 had been long at sea and had many sick on board, for whom 

 we wanted to purchase such refreshments as the island pro- 

 vided. He answered that he was willing to supply us with 

 everything that we should want, but being in alliance with 

 the Dutch East India Company, he was not allowed to trade 

 with any other people without their consent, which, however, 

 he would immediately apply for to a Dutchman belonging to 

 1 Now better known as Flores. 



