was to be cut off. I t was now our turn not to comprehend
signs, and thinking it would be idle to lose so favourable an
opportunity, spared no pains to reconcile the old man to
our landing. In this, however, we did not succeed, for, as
we approached the shore, his anxiety increased, and he
frequently drew his- hand across his neck, as if to shew that
he would lose his head if we persisted. We again tried to
re-assure him, by explaining that we had no intention of
going near the village, but merely desired to walk about for
a short time, and then to go to the frigate to dine. He
was of course included in this invitation; but his only
answer consisted in pointing t a us and making signs of
eating, and then drawing his hand across his throat;
by which he was understood to mean, that it might be very
well for us to talk of eating, but, for his part, he was taken
up with the danger of losing his head. We could not but
laugh a t this, as we had no notion of any such apprehension
being well grounded; and, in a short time, landed at the
distance of half a mile from the village.
The old man was lifted out of the boat by several of his
people, and we were amazed to find, when they set him
down, that he was in tears, and looking altogether very
unhappy. In a few minutes a crbwd, consisting of more
than a hundred people, assembled round us, and we began
to think we should pay dearly for our curiosity. But the
poor old man had no thoughts of vengeance, and was no
better pleased with the crowd than we were; for turning to
his soldiers, he desired them to disperse the mob, which
they did in a moment by pelting them with great stones.
The Chief now began crying violently, and turning towards
the village walked away, leaning his head on the shoulder of
one of his people. As he went along, he not only sobbed
and wept, but every now and then bellowed aloud. We
had been nowise prepared for such a scene, and were extremely
sorry for having pushed matters to this extremity.
I t had never occurred to us that the old Chiefs head was
really in danger; and even now we could not satisfy ourselves
whether he was sincere, or merely acting in order to
prevail on us to retire. The perfect tranquillity, nay even
cheerfulness of the Courtier, who staid with us all this time,
puzzled us extremely: nor could we account for the indifference
of the other attendants, who looked on with as
much composure as if such scenes were every day occurrences.
But at all evelits, it was necessary before proceeding
any further, that the old man should be pacified;
and in order to effect this, we sat down on the beach, upon
which he turned about and came crying back again. He
seated himself by us, and waited very patiently whilst we
remonstrated on the unreasonableness of his conduct, and