334 SAVU ISLAND CHAP xiv 



that company, who was the only white man residing upon 

 that island. A letter was accordingly despatched immedi- 

 ately, and after some hours' waiting, answered by the man 

 in person, who assured us with many civilities that we 

 were at liberty to buy of the natives whatever we pleased. 

 He, as well as the king and several of his attendants, ex- 

 pressed a desire of coming on board, provided, however, that 

 some of our people might stay on shore ; on which two were 

 left. 



About two o'clock they arrived ; our dinners were ready, 

 and they soon agreed to dine with us. On sitting down, 

 however, the king excused himself, saying that he did 

 not imagine that we who were white men would suffer him 

 who was black to sit down in our company. A compliment, 

 however, removed his scruples, and he and his prime 

 minister sat down and ate sparingly. During all dinner- 

 time we received many professions of friendship from both 

 the king and the European, who was a native of Saxony, by 

 name Johan Christopher Lange. Mutton was our fare : the 

 king expressed a desire to have an English sheep, and as we 

 had one left it was presented to him. Mynheer Lange then 

 hinted that a spying-glass would be acceptable, and was im- 

 mediately presented with one. We were told that the 

 island abounded in buffaloes, sheep, hogs, and fowls, all 

 which should be next day driven down to the beach, and we 

 might buy any quantity of them. This agreeable intelli- 

 gence put us all into high spirits, and the liquor went about 

 fully as much as Mynheer Lange or the Indians could bear. 

 They, however, expressed a desire of going away before they 

 were quite drunk. They were received upon deck, as they 

 had been when they came on board, by the marines under 

 arms. The king wished to see them exercise, which they 

 accordingly did, and fired three rounds much to his Majesty's 

 satisfaction, who expressed great surprise, particularly at 

 their so quickly cocking their guns. Dr. Solander and I 

 went ashore in the boat with them : as soon as we put off 

 they saluted the ship with three cheers, which the ship 

 answered with five guns. 



