SO VOYAGE TO THE
tongue, have his pulse felt, and submit to various interrogatories,
the object of which the unfortunate man could
not divine, particularly as there was nothing at all the
matter with him. He submitted with so^much patience to
all these forms, and the Chief looked on with such grave
propriety during all the examination, that they evidently
considered the whole scene as a part of our ceremonial
etiquette. When this gentleman was released from the
doctor’s hands, he began to examine the books with the air
of a person who understands what he is about. He appeared
desirous of passing for a literary character; and observing
us hand the books about in a careless manner, ventured to
ask for one, by drawing it towards himself with a begging
look. As he happened to select a volume of the Encyclopaedia
Britannica, I was under the necessity of refusing; but
offered in its stead a less valuable, though-more showy
book, which he accepted with much gratitude. No return,
of course, had been looked for, and I was for a moment at a
loss to understand what my friend meant, by slipping his
fan into my hand, under the table. He did this in so
mysterious a way, when the Chief was looking in another
direction, that I saw it was his wish to conceal what he had
done, and the fan was sent privately -away. But unfortunately,
my precaution was fruitless, for a few minutes
afterwards, on finding the crowded cabin very hot, I called
for a fan, and the servant, unconscious of the mischief he
was doing, brought the Courtier’s present; which no sooner
met the old man’s eye, than he rose half off his chair, and
gave his u n h a p p y 'companion such a look of furious anger,
as made him tremble from top to to e : but he was soon
pacified when he saw that we took an interest in the
question, and the Courtier was allowed to keep his book.
After sitting half an hour, and drinking a glass of
Constantia, the old man proposed to go upon deck. I
accordingly led the way, and had gone some steps up the
ladder, in advance, before I perceived that he had stopped
a t the door of the gun-room, where the officers mess, and
was looking in, with his usual curiosity. I begged him to
go in, which he accordingly did, and entertained himself
for some time, with looking over the different cabins of the
officers. Erom having observed the pleasure which he took
in the sight of any thing new, I was induced to propose his
going round the lower deck, and he looked quite pleased
when I pointed along the passage. The state hat, which
had been resolutely kept on during all this time, notwithstanding
its perpetual inconvenience to himself and every
one around him, was here destined to come off; for after
making two or three attempts, he found it impossible to get