To the stirrup there is tied a box, large enough to receive
the whole foot.
A dinner was given to-day by Captain Maxwell to the
chiefs Ookooma, Shayoon, Issacha Sandoo, Jeema, and
Issacha Hackeeboocoo; Jeeroo was also invited to it, but
did not a tte n d ; being the junior, he had probably been left
in charge of the beach and store-rooms. M&dera also made
one of the party, though not originally included in the
invitation. As he had never laid any claim to an equality
in rank with the chiefs, it had not been thought right to
invite him along with th em : but M fid era, who probably
knew that he would be very welcome, pu t himself in Captain
Maxwell’s way just before dinner, and was prevailed upon,
after a little persuasion, to remain.
Dinner was served at five o’clock in as sumptuous a style
as possible. Ookooma was placed on Captain Maxwell’s
right, and Shayoon on his le ft; I sat beside the former,
and Mr. Clifford next the other; then the two chiefs next
in rank, and beside them two of the officers of the ship ;
the first lieutenant, Mr. Hickman, sat at the foot of the
table, with Hackeeboocoo on his right, and M&dera on his
left. They were all in great spirits, and ate and drank
freely, and though they complained of the size of the
glasses, and of the strength of the wine, tasted every thing
from punch to champagne; the briskness of the last indeed
surprised them not a little, and effectually muddled two of
them for some time. Cheese was the only thing they all
objected to, probably on account of its being made of milk,
which they never taste. The interpreter not being present,
the conversation was carried on through Mr. Clifford and
Mddera, and partly by signs. Whether intelligibly or not,
every body was talking. Mddera has dined often on board
the ship, and is quite perfect in our customs. On this
occasion he took great charge of the chiefs a t his end of the
table, speaking sometimes in one language and sometimes in
the other. Observing Jeema eating ham without mustard,
he called to Captain Maxwell’s servant, and pointing to
Jeema, said, “ Tom, take mustard to him." When the
desert was pu t on table, and the wine decanters ranged in
a fine, they exclaimed in astonishment, “ Moo eeyroo noo
sackee," six kinds or colours of wine; but the sweetmeats
and prepared confectionary pleased them most.
After sitting about an hour and a half after dinner, and
drinking with tolerable spirit, they rose to d ep a rt; but this
they were not allowed to do, and they were informed that it
was the English custom to sit a much longer time. They
represented that the sun had set, and they would never be
able to find their way on shore, but would all be drowned in