To appease their
importunity, the governor gave them a knife, some bread, pork, and other
articles, and promised that in two days he would return hither, and bring
with him hatchets to be distributed among them, which appeared to diffuse
general satisfaction.
Baneelon's love of wine has been mentioned; and the governor, to try
whether it still subsisted, uncorked a bottle, and poured out a glass of
it, which the other drank off with his former marks of relish and good
humour, giving for a toast, as he had been taught, "The King."
Our party now advanced from the beach but, perceiving many of the Indians
filing off to the right and left, so as in some measure to surround them,
they retreated gently to their old situation, which produced neither alarm
or offence. The others by degrees also resumed their former position. A
very fine barbed spear of uncommon size being seen by the governor, he
asked for it. But Baneelon, instead of complying with the request, took
it away, and laid it at some distance, and brought back a throwing-stick,
which he presented to his excellency.
Matters had proceeded in this friendly train for more than half an hour,
when a native, with a spear in his hand, came forward, and stopped at
the distance of between twenty and thirty yards from the place where the
governor, Mr.
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