AMICABLE CONFERENCE. 
95 
possessed, as the two divisions formed a junction ; those on 
the left swimming over to the stronger body upon the right 
bank. This, fortunately, prevented the necessity of any 
hostile measure on my part, and we were suffered to proceed 
unmolested, for the present. The whole then followed us 
without any symptom of fear, but making a dreadful shout- 
ing, and beating their spears and shields together, by way 
of intimidation. It is but justice to my men to say that 
in this critical situation they evinced the greatest coolness^ 
though it was impossible for any one to witness such a scene 
with indifference. As I did not intend to fatigue the men 
by continuing to pull farther than we were in the habit of 
doing, we landed at our usual time on the left bank, and 
while the people were pitching the tents, I walked down the 
bank with IVTLeay, to treat with these desperadoes in the 
best way we could, across the water, a measure to which 
my men shewed great reluctance, declaring that if during 
our absence the natives approached them, they would un- 
doubtedly fire upon them. I assured them it was not my 
intention to go out of their sight. We took our guns with 
us, but determined not to use them until the last extremity, 
both from a reluctance to shed blood and with a view to 
our future security. I held a long pantomimical dialogue 
with them, across the water, and held out the olive branch 
in token of amity. They at length laid aside their spears, 
and a long consultation took place among them, which 
ended in two or three wading into the river, contrary, as it 
appeared, to the earnest remonstrances of the majority, who, 
