OFFICIOUS FIUENDS. 
259 
country, they considered their honour pledged for our 
safety, and therefore they could not suffer us to expose 
ourselves to such peril ; but that if we were obstinate, 
and would not take warning of our best and warmest 
friends, they would be reduced to the disagreeable 
necessity of shooting us themselves, in order to save 
us and them, from the disgrace and mortification of 
our being killed by hushmen. 
The sum and substance of all this, was a jealousy 
of our becoming acquainted with the river ; and dread, 
that if they allowed us to penetrate beyond their 
territory, their neighbours would participate in the 
advantages of intercourse with the white men. It 
was quite evident, that if they were determined to 
carry their merciful intentions into effect, we had not 
sufficient grounds to justify our objection. However, 
Captain Allen thought it better to treat the affair in a 
cavalier manner; so, laughed at their fears for our safety, 
and said that our present object was merely to go as 
far as the upper end of Wuri Island, which we were 
resolved to do, but that we might possibly return with 
the fire-ship, and then we would see who would dare 
to stop a white man, and the Queen of England’s ship. 
The people assembled on the bank, then gave three 
loud shouts, whether in acquiescence or defiance we 
could not learn ; but they suffered us to pass on un- 
molested. The men on Wuri Island likewise expressed 
anxiety about our intentions, and all asked if we 
were going to the Budiman’s country. Some appeared 
s 2 
