338 SAVU ISLAND CHAP, xiv 



allowed to trade with us, after which he began to drive 

 away those who had brought hens, syrup, etc. To remedy 

 this an old sword which lay in the boat was given to the 

 Prime Minister, as I have called him, Mannudjame, who in 

 an instant restored order, and severely chid the officer of the 

 guard, an old Portuguese Indian, for having gone beyond 

 his orders. Trade now was as brisk as ever; fowls and 

 syrup were bought cheap, and in vast plenty. The state 

 of the case now appeared plain : Mr. Lange was to have a 

 share of what the buffaloes were sold for, and that was to 

 be paid in money. The captain, therefore, though sore 

 against his will, resolved to pay five guineas apiece for one 

 or two buffaloes, and try to buy the Test for muskets. Ac- 

 cordingly, no sooner had he hinted his mind to the Portu- 

 guese Indian, than a buffalo, but a very small one, was 

 brought down, and five guineas given for it : two larger ones 

 followed immediately, for one of which a musket, and for 

 the other five guineas was given. There was now no more 

 occasion for money, we picked them just as we chose for a 

 musket apiece. We bought nine, as many as we thought 

 would last us to Batavia, especially as we had little or no 

 victuals, but so ill were we provided with cords that three 

 of the nine broke from us ; two of these the Indians re- 

 covered, but the third got quite off, though our people, 

 assisted by the Indians, followed it for three hours. 



In the evening Mr. Lange came down to the beach, 

 softened by the money which, no doubt, he had received, 

 and took frequent occasions of letting us know that if we 

 pleased we might come ashore the next day. Our business 

 was, however, quite done, so to fulfil a promise which we 

 had made, he was presented with a small cag of beer, and 

 we took our leave as good friends as possible. 



I have been very diffuse and particular in mentioning 

 every trifling circumstance which occurred in this transac- 

 tion, as this may perhaps be the only opportunity I shall 

 ever have of visiting an island of great consequence to the 

 Dutch, and scarcely known to any other Europeans, even 

 by name. I can find it in only one of the draughts, and 



