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 rest 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 
