370 JOURNAL OF A VISIT 



had never seen shot before, and had no idea that birds 

 could be killed on the wing. After having staid ashore 

 about two hours, we returned on board, and were 

 detained another hour in taking in dried fish, which the 

 inhabitants brought off in abundance as presents to 

 Williamson, who gave it to our natives who were pulling 

 the boat. This gentleman's knowledge of their 

 language, and kindness of disposition, have gained him 

 a name amongst these, and many other tribes which 

 he has never seen, that will ensure him everywhere 

 a kind reception, whenever, in the course of his duty, 

 he may have to visit them. At last we got under 

 weigh, but soon brought up again in sight of the 

 houses on the sandy beach, at the right-hand point of the 

 mouth of the river, as the natives could not be induced 

 to go to sea till they had another tide. We humoured 

 them, and I went on shore with my gun, accompanied 

 by the Tuanku, who is an excellent shot, and very fond 

 of sporting, particularly deer shooting. There were large 

 flocks of sand-pipers, curlew, and plovers, on the beach, 

 amongst which we made sad havoc as we wished to 

 bag enough to feast all the men, many of whom followed 

 us for the purpose of cutting the throats of the birds, 

 without having done which, they, being Mahometans, 

 cannot eat them. At each double discharge, we 

 generally knocked over two dozen birds of all descrip- 

 tions. During the night, we made a fresh start, but 

 were soon aground, as our people did not know, or 

 pretended not to know, the channel they said there 



