Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/396

338 allowed to trade with us, after which he began to drive away those who had brought hens, syrup, etc. To remedy this an old sword which lay in the boat was given to the Prime Minister, as I have called him, Mannudjame, who in an instant restored order, and severely chid the officer of the guard, an old Portuguese Indian, for having gone beyond his orders. Trade now was as brisk as ever; fowls and syrup were bought cheap, and in vast plenty. The state of the case now appeared plain: Mr. Lange was to have a share of what the buffaloes were sold for, and that was to be paid in money. The captain, therefore, though sore against his will, resolved to pay five guineas apiece for one or two buffaloes, and try to buy the rest for muskets. Accordingly, no sooner had he hinted his mind to the Portuguese Indian, than a buffalo, but a very small one, was brought down, and five guineas given for it: two larger ones followed immediately, for one of which a musket, and for the other five guineas was given. There was now no more occasion for money, we picked them just as we chose for a musket apiece. We bought nine, as many as we thought would last us to Batavia, especially as we had little or no victuals, but so ill were we provided with cords that three of the nine broke from us; two of these the Indians recovered, but the third got quite off, though our people, assisted by the Indians, followed it for three hours.

In the evening Mr. Lange came down to the beach, softened by the money which, no doubt, he had received, and took frequent occasions of letting us know that if we pleased we might come ashore the next day. Our business was, however, quite done, so to fulfil a promise which we had made, he was presented with a small cag of beer, and we took our leave as good friends as possible.

I have been very diffuse and particular in mentioning every trifling circumstance which occurred in this transaction, as this may perhaps be the only opportunity I shall ever have of visiting an island of great consequence to the Dutch, and scarcely known to any other Europeans, even by name. I can find it in only one of the draughts, and