boat to fetch him off. At eleven, the Captain, accompanied by several
of his officers, myself, the band, and a party of marines, with a
variety of presents, went in three boats for the purpose of paying our
intended visit to his Majesty. We landed at a small cove, three miles
to the eastward of the ship, since known by the name of King-Cove, and
were conducted by the chiefs to a small open place in the woods, at the
distance of about a hundred yards from the rocky shore, where the
natives had placed a number of stones in the water in such manner as to
leave a channel for only one canoe to land at a time. When the Captain
was seated, a small ram, and several calabashes of palm-wine, were
brought forward. After waiting an hour, the King arrived, when the
Captain, rising to receive him, ordered a red cloak to be thrown over
his shoulders, and a velvet cap to be put on his head; as his Majesty
wore his native hat, ornamented with a pair of ram's horns on the fore
part of it, it became necessary to place the velvet one above it, and
secure it in its position by means of a bone skewer, which, piercing
both at the same time, fastened them effectually to the tuft of hair on
the top of the head. The sight of our presents, but more particularly
the quantity of iron, excited so uncontrollably the feelings of the
royal party, that the good order previously observed, could now no
longer be maintained; we were pressed upon on all sides, and with such
an inconceivable clatter and confusion of tongues, that the bellowing
of cattle would have been comparatively musical to our ears; however,
to do them justice, notwithstanding this horrid din, they did not make
the least attempt upon our persons or property. It was noticed that the
King himself gave away several small pieces of iron to certain
individuals, probably an act of policy, which, by leading others to
expect a similar token of royal favour, would restrain them from
attempting to help themselves, and thus diminish the quantum of his own
presents. During this scene of confusion, we retired to the beach and
entered our boats, the crowd following us to the shore, and many even
into the water. On this occasion, we calculated that there could not
have been less than two thousand natives assembled, including many
women, but they were kept apart from the men. Mr. Galler spoke to some
of them; but they were excessively timid, although the men endeavoured
to encourage familiarity by placing