The King of Savu dines on board. 169 
or King of the ifland, and by a Portuguefe interpreter, told 
him, that the fhip was a man of wtar belonging to the King of 
Grear-Britain, and that Ihe had many lick on board, for 
whom he wanted to purchafe fuch refrefliments as the ifland 
afforded. His Majefty replied, that he was willing to fup- 
ply us with whatever we wanted, but, that being in alliance 
with the Dutch EaA India Company, he was not at liberty to 
trade with any other people, without having firfl: procured 
their confent, for which, however, he faid he would imme- 
diately apply to a Dutchman, who belonged to the company, 
and who was the only white man upon the illand. To this 
man, who refided at fome diftance, a letter was immediately 
difpatched, acquainting him with our arrival and requeft : in 
the mean time, Mr. Gore difpatched a meffenger to me, with 
an account of his fituation, and the Hate of the treaty. In 
abont three hours the Dutch refldent anfwered the letter that 
had been fent him, in perfon : he proved to be a native of 
Saxony, and his name is Johan Chriftopher Lange, and the 
fame perfon whom we had feen on horfeback in a European 
drefs : he behaved with great civility to Mr. Gore, and af- 
fured him, that we were at liberty to purchafe of the natives 
whatever we pleafed. After a Ihort time he expreffed a defire 
of coming on board, fo did the King al o, and feveral of his 
attendants : Mr. Gore intimated that he was ready to attend 
them, but they defired that two of our people might be left 
alhore as hoftages, and in this alfo they were indulged. 
About two o’clock, they all came aboard the fhip, and our 
dinner being ready, they accepted our invitation to partake 
of it : I expefted them immediately to fit down, but the King 
feemed to hefitate, and at laft, with fome confufion, faid he 
did not imagine that we, who were white men, would fuffer 
him, who was of a different colour, to fit down in our com- 
pany ; a compliment loon removed his fcruples, and we all 
fat down together with great cheerfulnefs and cordiality : hap- 
pily we were at no lofs for interpreters, both Dr. Solander 
and Mr. Sporing underft ending Dutch enough to keep up a 
converfation with Mr. Lange, and feveral of the feao .en were 
able to converfe with fuch of the natives as fpoke Portuguefe. 
Oar dinner happened to be mutton, and the King expreffed a 
defire of having an Englilh (heep ; we had but one left, how- 
ever that was prefented to him : the facility with which this 
was procured, encouraged him to alk for an Eogliih dog, and 
Mr. Banks politely gave up his greyhound : Mr. Lange then 
intimated that a fpying-glafs would be acceptable, and one 
was immediately put into his hand. Oar guefts then told us 
that the ifland abounded with buffaloes, (he,ep, hogs, and 
fowls, plenty of which Ihould be driven down to the beach the 
next aay, that we might’ purchafe as many of them 
VOL. II. ' P 
f .'.o’ • , % 
as we 
Ihould 
