uch as possible
by the aid of the trees and of the brushwood. Suddenly we perceived
before us, at a very little distance, forty savages of both sexes,
and of all ages; they absolutely seemed to be mere brutes; they were
on the bank of a river, and close to a large fire. We advanced some
steps presenting the but-end of our guns. The moment they saw us
they set up a shrill cry, and were about to take to flight; but I
made signs, and showed the packet of cigars which we wished to give
them. Fortunately I had learned at Binangonan the way by which I was
to approach them. As soon as they understood us they ranged themselves
in a line, like men about to be reviewed; that was the signal that we
might come near them. We approached with the cigars in our hands, and
at one end of the line I began to distribute my presents. It was highly
important to make friends of them, and, according to their custom,
to give to each an equal share. My distribution being finished, our
alliance was cemented, and peace concluded: the savages and we had
nothing to dread from each other. They all began smoking. A stag
had been suspended to a tree; their chief cut three large pieces
from it with a bamboo knife, which he threw into the glowing fire,
and a moment afterwards drew it out again and handed it round, a piece
being given to each of us. The outside of this steak was burned, and a
little spotted with cinders, but the inside was raw and full of blood;
however it was necessary not to show any repugnance, and to make a
cannibal feast, otherwise my hosts would have been affronted, and I
was anxious to live with them for some days on a good understanding. I
therefore eat my portion of the stag, which, after all, was not bad:
my Indians did as I had done. Good relations were thus established
between us, and treachery was not then to be expected.

I now found myself in the midst of a tribe of men whom I had come from
Jala-Jala to see, and I set about examining them at my ease, and for
as long as I wished. We fixed our bivouac some steps from theirs, as
if we wished to form part of the family of our new friends. I could
not address them but by signs, and I had the greatest difficulty in
making them understand me, but on the day after my arrival I had an
interpreter. A woman came to me with a child, to which she wished
to give a name; she had been reared amongst the Tagalocs; she had
spoken that language, of which she remembered a little, and could
gi