SEPT. 1770 RECEPTION AT SAVU 333 
fruit, fowls, etc. They talked much of the Portuguese and 
of Larntuca on the Island of Ende,' 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 Radja 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. 
