first visit they make it a point of honour of accepting of no
present; but they make sufficient amends for that, by introducing a
numerous train of dependents afterwards, to obtain presents.

The King is a tall handsome looking man, about six feet three inches
high, good natured, and affable in his manners. His principal queen,
Edea, is a robust looking, course woman, about thirty, and was extremely
solicitous in learning and adopting our customs, and on hearing our
English ladies drank tea, became very fond of it. The other queen, or
concubine, named Aeredy, is a pretty young creature, about sixteen years
of age: they all three sleep together, and live in the most perfect
harmony.

A detachment of men were immediately ordered, under the command of
Lieutenant Corner, to march across the country, and if possible to get
between the mountains and the mutineers; this gentleman was extremely
well calculated for an expedition of this kind, having, in the early part
of his life, bore a commission in the land service, and next morning they
landed on Point Venus, attended by the principal chiefs as conductors,
and a number of the common people to assist in carrying the ammunition
over the heights: what rendered their assistance more necessary, was
their having to cross a rapid cataract, or river, which came down from
the mountains, and formed so many curves. They had to ford it sixteen
times in the course of their journey, which gave evident proofs of the
superior strength of the natives over the English seamen. The former went
over with ease, where the sailors could not stem the rapidity of the
torrent without their help. They were, however, forced to send to the
ship for ropes and tackles to gain some heights which were otherwise
inaccessible.

On the party coming to a rest, the Lieutenant expressed a wish to one of
the natives for something to eat, who told him he might be supplied with
plenty of victuals ready dressed; he immediately ran to a temple, or
place of worship, where meat was regularly served to their god, and came
running with a roasted pig, that had been presented that day. This
striking instance of impiety rather startled the Lieutenant, which the
other easily got over, by saying there was more left than the god could
eat.

It was with much difficulty they could restrain the natives from
committing depredations on the Cava grounds of the upper districts, as
they were on the eve of a war with them respecting