ANOTHER LARGE VILLAGE. 287 



turned ; and the ebb being now favourable for us, 

 we passed the bar at the top of high water, and beat 

 down below Pigville, when we anchored. 



June 1. — It was still raining, with a constant 

 drizzle and heavy showers at intervals. We weighed 

 at nine o'clock with the first of the ebb, and beat 

 down, making boards right across the river from 

 bank to bank, and finding everywhere a depth of 

 full three fathoms at high water. We tacked close 

 in to the village next below Pigville, where we 

 counted four immense houses and several smaller 

 ones. There were many people, both at the edge 

 of the water and in front of the houses, mostly 

 armed, but they ran out with shouts rather of 

 welcome than defiance, holding up branches of 

 trees and shell ornaments, inviting us ashore. 

 Having learnt our power, I have no doubt we could 

 have now commenced a friendly intercourse with 

 these people, could we have stayed a day with 

 them. The weather was too wet, however, and 

 the jungle too thick and close to venture our- 

 selves ashore, when our arms, if wanted, might 

 be useless; and as, from a careful survey with our 

 glasses, no sign of our boats, or of any European 

 articles, could be seen, it was decided we should 

 make all possible use of the present favourable tide 

 to quit the river, and return to our ship. We 

 accordingly beat down out of the channel on to 

 the mud-flats outside. Here we found a fresh sea- 

 breeze springing up, which, with our weather tide, 

 enabled us to work rapidly to windward, making 



