256 
POTATIONS. 
especial appetite. In appeasing liis hunger, however, 
he showed himself mindful of the wants of his faithful 
attendants, by pitching to them, from time to time, a 
bone or a morsel of meat, which “ largesse” coming 
direct from the royal hand, was the more acceptable. 
There was no unseemly scrambling for his Majesty’s 
favour, every one appeared to know for whom the 
mouthful was intended, by the direction it took, in its 
progress over their heads. 
Supper being ended, every thing was cleared away, 
spirits of various kinds were assembled on the coffin; and 
although we all felt weary and sleepy, we were obliged 
to submit to some potations, and a long palaver on 
the subject of our visit to that part of the river, as 
well as to listen with patience to the evidently muti- 
lated translation of the eloquence and lengthy argu- 
ments of the noisy council, wffiose loquacity was not 
at all restricted by the libations consequent on the 
reception of white visitors. 
At last, after an hour’s hard battle — ^in words — 
between King Bell and the “ gentleman” of the town, 
and one or two of the most notable wiseheads, it was 
resolved that a fetiche should determine whether it 
was proper for our party to continue the investigation 
up the river, or return by the same route ; — without any 
reference to the wishes of those most interested. 
The ceremony — over which we could exert no 
influence — having been duly performed, it seemed to 
have been decided, without possibility of appeal. 
