408 
JOURNAL OF TIIE EMBASSY 
up by Governor North to interpret from that language, 
and who repeated it in French to General Macdowah 
Thus the conversation was carried -on by five different per- 
sons, and in three different languages ; the General's answers 
returning by the same channel which had conveyed his 
Majesty's questions. 
The tedious length to which such a conference must have 
been protracted, may be easily conceived, and though it 
lasted near three hours, this first interview was entirely 
occupied with complimentary matters. During the confer- 
ence, rose-water was frequently sprinkled around from 
curiously wrought vessels of gold ; and perfumes were 
handed about on salvers of gold and silver fillagree-work. 
The oppressive heat of the room however, joined to the 
powerful exhalations of the scented oils burned in the 
lamps, and the rank smell of cocoa-nut oil with which 
•the natives present were universally anointed, overcame the 
effects of all these precautions, and almost stifled the Euro- 
pean gentlemen who were allowed to remain at one end of 
the hall where the General’s guard was stationed. During the 
audience, the rain poured down in torrents without inter- 
mission ; and continued to do so until the General was on 
his march back to the camp, where he arrived about five 
in the morning, quite exhausted with fatigue. 
After this audience, some days were permitted to elapse 
before another could be obtained ; as it is a standing 
maxim with the Candians never to hurry forward affairs, 
3 
