VISIT TO A MOUNTAIK TRIBE. 129 
absolutely the air of aDimals. They were on the hanks 
of a rivulet, surrounding a great fii-c. 'We made several 
steps in advance, and presented the butt-ends of our guns 
tovitarda them. As soon as they perceived us they set up 
shrill cries, and prepared to take to flight ; but I made 
signs to them, by showing them some packets of segai-s, 
that we wished to offer them for their acceptance, I 
had foi'tunately received at Binaugonaa all the instructions 
nee^sary for knowing how to open a communication with 
them. As aoon as they eomprehended us, they ranged 
themselves into a line, like men preparing for a review : 
this was the signal that we might approach. We went 
up to them with our segars in our hands, and I com- 
menced distributing them from one ettremity of the line. 
It was very important that we should make friends with 
them, and give each an equal share, according to their 
custom. The women who happened to be in the family- 
way claimed a double share, and patted the most pro- 
minent part of their persons in order to bring under my 
notice their title to the claim- The distribution being 
over, our alliance was cemented, and peace concluded, 
when they commenced smoking. A deer was hanging to 
a tree, fram which the chief cut three large slices with a 
knife of bamboo, atid threw them into the fire, and draw- 
ing them out an instant afterwards, presented a piece to 
each of na. The exterior was slightly burned and 
sprinkled with ashes, but the interior was perfectly raw 
and bloody. It would not do, however, to show the 
repugnance I felt at making a repast scarcely better than 
that of a cannibal, for my hosts would have been 
scandahzed, and I wished to. hve in good correspondence 
G a 
