hand in token of friendship, but would accept
nothing in return.
Captain Wallis was now so well satisfied that there was nothing further
to apprehend from the hostility of the natives, that he sent a party up
the country to cut wood, who were treated with great kindness and
hospitality by all they met, and the ship was visited by persons of both
sexes, who by their dress and behaviour appeared to be of a superior
rank. Among others was a tall lady about five and forty years of age, of
a pleasing countenance and majestic deportment. She was under no
restraint, either from diffidence or fear, and conducted herself with that
easy freedom which generally distinguishes conscious superiority and
habitual command. She accepted some small present which the captain
gave her, with a good grace and much pleasure; and having observed
that he was weak and suffering from ill health, she pointed to the shore,
which he understood to be an invitation, and made signs that he would
go thither the next morning. His visit to this lady displays so much
character and good feeling, that it will best be described in the captain's
own words.
'The next morning I went on shore for the first time, and my princess or
rather queen, for such by her authority she appeared to be, soon after
came to me, followed by many of her attendants. As she perceived that
my disorder had left me very weak, she ordered her people to take me
in their arms, and carry me not only over the river, but all the way to
her house; and observing that some of the people who were with me,
particularly the first lieutenant and purser, had also been sick, she
caused them also to be carried in the same manner, and a guard, which
I had ordered out upon the occasion, followed. In our way, a vast
multitude crowded about us, but upon her waving her hand, without
speaking a word, they withdrew, and left us a free passage. When we
approached near her house, a great number of both sexes came out to
meet her; these she presented to me, after having intimated by signs
that they were her relations, and taking hold of my hand she made them
kiss it.
'We then entered the house, which covered a piece of ground three
hundred and twenty-seven feet long, and forty-two feet broad. It
consisted of a roof thatched with palm leaves, and raised upon
thirty-nine pillars on each side, and fourteen in the middle. The ridge of
the thatch, on the inside, was thirty feet high, and the sides of the house,
to the edge of the roof, were twelve feet high; all below the roof being
open. As soon as we entered the house, she made us sit down, and then
calling four young girls, she assisted them to take off my shoes, draw
down my stockings, and pull off my coat, and then directed them to
smooth down the skin, and gently chafe it with their hands. The same
operation was also performed on the first lieutenant and the purser, but
upon none of those who appeared to be in health. While this was doing,
our surgeon, who had walked till he was very warm, took off his wig to
cool and refresh himself: a sudden exclamation of one of the Indians,
who saw it, drew the attention of the rest, and in a moment every eye
was fixed upon the prodigy, and every operation was suspended. The
whole assembly stood some time motionless, in silent astonishment,
which could not have been more strongly expressed, if they had
discovered that our friend's limbs had been screwed on to the trunk. In
a short time, however, the young women who were chafing us, resumed
their employment, and having continued for about half an hour, they
dressed us again, but in this they were, as may easily be imagined, very
awkward; I found great benefit, however, from the chafing, and so did
the lieutenant and the purser.
'After a little time our generous benefactress ordered some bales of
Indian cloth to be brought out, with which she clothed me, and all that
were with me, according to the fashion of the country. At first I
declined the acceptance of this favour, but being unwilling not to seem
pleased with what was intended to please me, I acquiesced. When we
went away, she ordered a very large sow, big with young, to be taken
down to the boat, and accompanied us thither herself. She had given
directions to her people to carry me, as they had done when I came, but
as I chose rather to walk, she took me by the arm, and whenever we
came to a plash
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