480 



APPEXDIX III. 



pose, as we afterwards understood, of extorting a promise 

 of money and other articles from him. Our feeKngs were 

 at this moment very uncomfortable. It was easy to see 

 some mischief was in hand, for the place where we sat, 

 and the passages about it, were filled with armed men ; 

 those who before had none, going out and returning with 

 spears, bows and arrows, &c. !Xear sunset, Captain Smee 

 again came out and, without sitting down, said he was 

 going to the beach ; we followed, and though environed 

 by an armed multitude, reached it without molestation. 

 Finding the boat, by the rise of the tide, had got close in, 

 we embarked with great satisfaction. When Captain 

 Smee was first callc-d out, the Sooltan required that he 

 should supply them with 15 muskets, 10 pistols, 11 bar- 

 rels of gunpowder, several parcels of flints, &c. This 

 demand was remonstrated against, on the ground that 

 these articles belonged to the Company his masters, and 

 if he parted with tliem he could not defend himself 

 against his enemies, — two of whose vessels, they them- 

 selves had acknowledged, were at Zanzibar and Quaile- 

 mane ; but again reflecting he was entirely in tlieir power, 

 promi.-?cd to comply with their requisitions as far as com- 

 patible with the safety of the ships under hia command. 

 They seemed satisfied ; said the French vessels at Zanzibar 

 and Quailemane were only small vessels trading for 

 slaves, and for the time put an end to the conference ; but 

 encouraged by success (for they seemed to place great 

 confidence in the promise of an Engli'thman), a second 

 request for money to satisfy 'their soldiers was made, to 

 which Captain Smee positively refused to accede. He 

 told them he had no money to spare ; asked if the letters 

 ho had delivered had been read ; if so, that he was aston- 



