364 TOWN OF HOOTWAH. 



mats to cover the boat with. When the natives 

 found that we were in want of mats, several were 

 brought to the boat for sale ; but when the king 

 heard that the natives were selling the mats to 

 our people, he sent word to his subjects not to 

 take anything for them ; '' For," said he, " if the 

 white men, my friends, want mats, I will dash* 

 them, not sell them." The morning being very 

 hot, I rose to depart ; when the king invited me 

 to his house, and produced some excellent palm- 

 wine, while two of his wives were peeping at us 

 from a side apartment. At the back of the town 

 were a great number of fine plantain and banana 

 trees loaded to the ground with fruit. 



A fresh breeze springing up, I took my leave 

 of the king ; and we departed immediately, and 

 soon left the town out of sight. Mr. Lander 

 still continued very unwell, the heavy rains 

 we have had the last two days having in- 

 creased his illness. At about half-past three in 

 the afternoon we passed a small town named 

 Hootwah, the natives of which hoisted a white 

 flag and invited us on shore. There were seve- 

 ral Brass canoes near this town, some having 



* This is a common expression on the coast, and means 

 " making a present." 



