rofound
salaam to the old gentleman beyond them. It had its due effect, for
directly afterwards they lowered their swords, and their looks became
much less threatening. I thought, therefore, that I might venture to
approach, and advancing slowly, I made another salaam. As I could not
speak a word of Malay, I had to explain by signs the intelligence I
wished to convey. I therefore pointed to the sea, and then put my hands
together, rocking them up and down, in imitation of a vessel, and then
making the sound of an explosion, I endeavoured to explain that my ship
was blown up. Next, I pointed to myself, holding up one finger, adding
five others, and then, moving the palm of my hand from the sea toward
the shore, indicated that we had just landed. I judged from the
expression of the spectators' countenances that they understood me, and,
making another salaam, I asked permission of the Rajah to go and fetch
my companions. He nodded, and I hurried off. I could not, however,
resist the temptation of passing near the fire where the men were
cooking. On it was boiling a large pot of rice. I held out my hands,
and entreated that the cooks would put some of their food into them.
They understood me, and I presently had my hands filled with hot rice,
so hot, indeed, that I nearly let it fall. In spite, however, of the
heat, my mouth was soon embedded in it. Before I had gone far, I had
eaten the whole of it. I made signs that I should like to take some to
my companions, but the Malays in return signified that they must come
and fetch it themselves. Pat Brady's delight on seeing me knew no
bounds. Followed by the party, I quickly returned. We were none of us
objects to excite fear. Malay pirates are not much addicted to feelings
of pity. Such we believed to be the occupation of the gentry before us.
Smith, I found, could speak a little Malay, and, putting him forward as
interpreter, we explained more clearly to the Rajah what had happened,
and begged him to help us to reach some European settlement, whence we
could find our way back to our ship. This request made him cast a
suspicious look at us.

"Are you Dutch?" he asked us suddenly.

Smith assured him that we were British.

"He says, sir, it is fortunate we are so," observed Smith to me,
interpreting the Rajah's reply. "They vow vengeance against the Dutch,
whom they say tyrannise over them, and declare that if we had been Dutch
they would have cut the thro