Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/392

334 that company, who was the only white man residing upon that island. A letter was accordingly despatched immediately, and after some hours' waiting, answered by the man in person, who assured us with many civilities that we were at liberty to buy of the natives whatever we pleased. He, as well as the king and several of his attendants, expressed a desire of coming on board, provided, however, that some of our people might stay on shore; on which two were left.

About two o'clock they arrived; our dinners were ready, and they soon agreed to dine with us. On sitting down, however, the king excused himself, saying that he did not imagine that we who were white men would suffer him who was black to sit down in our company. A compliment, however, removed his scruples, and he and his prime minister sat down and ate sparingly. During all dinnertime we received many professions of friendship from both the king and the European, who was a native of Saxony, by name Johan Christopher Lange. Mutton was our fare: the king expressed a desire to have an English sheep, and as we had one left it was presented to him. Mynheer Lange then hinted that a spying-glass would be acceptable, and was immediately presented with one. We were told that the island abounded in buffaloes, sheep, hogs, and fowls, all which should be next day driven down to the beach, and we might buy any quantity of them. This agreeable intelligence put us all into high spirits, and the liquor went about fully as much as Mynheer Lange or the Indians could bear. They, however, expressed a desire of going away before they were quite drunk. They were received upon deck, as they had been when they came on board, by the marines under arms. The king wished to see them exercise, which they accordingly did, and fired three rounds much to his Majesty's satisfaction, who expressed great surprise, particularly at their so quickly cocking their guns. Dr. Solander and I went ashore in the boat with them: as soon as we put off they saluted the ship with three cheers, which the ship answered with five guns.