HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
479 
were on board any of the ships. His son paid a visit to Spilberg, with a great 
number of officers and two Turks, all superbly dressed in the Turkish fashion: he 
was received in a very respectful manner, and an handsome collation was prepared 
for him, but as it was a fast-day according to his religion, he declined partaking of 
it. The Admiral made him several presents for the Queen, his mother, as well as 
for himself, consisting of looking glasses, and necklaces of amber and crystal. The 
Queen immediately sent in return a bullock and several goats. 
These mutual civilities inspired a mutual confidence, so that the Dutch visited 
the town at their ease, where they received the most hospitable attentions. They 
solicited their Admiral to comply with the desire of the King and the Queen, who 
had expressed an earnest wish to receive him on shore, as the latter had been induced 
to come from the furthest part of the island in the hope of seeing him. But the 
adventure of Rufisco was still in his mind, and made him deaf to their entreaties ; 
though the King offered his son as an hostage : and to give him a further example 
of confidence, he proposed to pay him a visit on board his ship, and appointed the 
5th of March for that purpose. He was accompanied by a great number of his 
people, all dressed in the Turkish fashion; and his visit proved, to all appearance, 
extremely satisfactory to him. He was acquainted with navigation; and when a 
globe and charts were brought to him, he distinguished very readily the principal 
places in the East Indies. It appeared from his observations, that he lately fre¬ 
quented the Red Sea, of which he had perfect knowledge. As the season of fasting 
was not yet passed, there were no other means of entertaining him but by musical 
instruments, and the discharge of artillery: he declared the utmost satisfaction at 
the desire which had been manifested to please him; and it is not easy to determine 
if any treacherous design was lurking behind his exterior deportment. 
Two days after, Spilberg went on shore without giving him any previous notice, 
and on his arrival at the city, he, by chance, met the High Priest of the island, 
who pressed him to pay a visit to the king : he again begged to be excused at 
present, on pretext of the fast not being over; the principal pleasure of visiting 
being to eat and drink. The season of fasting being completed, he was solicited 
more than ever to go on shore, and take part in the festivities of the town: he, 
however, made other pretexts for his refusal; but although the King voluntarily 
came on board to congratulate Captain Speck on his joining the fleet with his 
ship, neither this politeness nor the renewed invitations of the Prince, could 
