baker's first voyage. 
159 
This great personage refused to approach, till 
the English, after his example, had put water to 
the cheek. He then ventured forward with seve- 
ral of his people, and being regaled with presents 
and promises, appeared to be very well satisfied. 
His eye, however, was observed very attentively 
fixed upon a boat, in which a good deal of mer- 
chandize was contained ; but no suspicion of any 
sinister view was entertained, till next night, a 
noise being heard, he and several of his people 
were seen busy at the boat. Finding themselves 
discovered, they made off with all speed, but not 
till the boat had been emptied of its most valuable 
contents. Next day the English went on shore, 
to see what redress could be got for this act of 
plunder ; but the negroes, instead of manifesting 
any symptoms of penitence, were prepared to add 
force to their treachery. The English were soon 
too happy to reach their vessel, and did not even 
there find themselves in safety. A multitude of 
canoes were collected on both sides of them, so 
that they could neither pass up nor down the 
river without fighting their way. The negroes 
attacked furiously with darts and poisoned arrows, 
and even made desperate attempts to board the 
English vessel. The master's mate was killed, 
the captain wounded, and not one of the crew 
escaped without some injury. At length they 
reached the sea, and our author sought refuge in 
23 
