40 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1818. shewed his taste for this food by licking it with his 
Feb. 26 . tongue. He was then taken to the side of the 
vessel from which his companions were visible, 
when he immediately exclaimed, with much 
earnestness, and in a loud voice, “ coma negra ,” 
and repeated the words several times. After he 
had been on board for half an hour, during which 
time he had been greatly caressed, in order to 
induce him to give a favourable account of us to 
his companions, he was taken half way towards 
the shore in our boat, and then launched upon his 
log, to which was lashed an axe, and arOund his 
neck a bag was suspended containing biscuits, 
and a little of every thing that he appeared to fancy 
or be amused with during his short captivity. 
As soon as he perceived himself clear of the 
boat he paddled away, and in a short time 
reached the shore and joined his terrified compa- 
nions ; who, upon his approaching them, ordered 
him to stand at a distance until he had thrown 
away his red cap, the bag, and the axe, and 
had answered several questions which they were 
apparently putting to him. All this time they 
had their spears poised and pointed towards 
him, and stood huddled together in the greatest 
alarm ; the women were kept away, but their 
curiosity was so much excited that, although they 
were more terrified than the men, they were 
