next audience for the purpose of taking leave, several messages and conversations took place between general Macdowal and the adigar on political topics. The greatest precaution was employed by the Candians to prevent any intercourse between those of our escort, particularly the Malays and Malabars, and those in the king's service. Our soldiers who attended the general to the court were prevented by every possible means from conversing with the natives. In spite of these precautions, how ever, several pieces of information were procured which may be turned to advantage hereafter. Several Malays in the king's service found an opportunity of expressing their sorrow at not having it in their power to return to Columbo with their old companions. Most of those Malays had been slaves to the Dutch, and had on account of ill treatment made their escape to the Candian territories. They would have gladly returned to their former masters, and submitted to any punishment for their desertion, rather than live in continual apprehension from the caprices of a despotic and barbarous court.

"At the audience for taking leave, the king put a gold chain round the general's neck, and presented him with a sword and an embroidered belt and scabbard. He also gave him a ring set with different sorts of precious stones, and an elephant. These, even when added to the presents sent to governor North by the king, were of small value in comparison of

those his Candian majesty received from our government. To the officers who accompanied the king were distributed a gold chain, a ring, and some tortoise shells of little value; and the soldiers were merely presented with a piece of coarse cloth. Nor was the escort even supplied with provisions while at the Candian court; a piece of hospitality which was expected, and which on former occasions it had been usual to confer. A small quantity of rice and paddy of an inferior sort, with a few sweet meats dealt with a very sparing hand, were all the gifts which our troops derived from Candian hospitality.

"The general, after taking his final leave of his majesty, and having obtained orders for departure, commenced his route on the 2d of May for the camp at Ruanelli, and arrived there on the 6th. Next day he set out with his staff for Columbo, leaving directions with colonel Torrens to march the detachment back as soon as the escort he had carried up with him to Candy were sufficiently refreshed from their fatigues,

"On the tenth of May the whole detachment set off to Sittivacca, where they encamped that night.

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"11th. Marched to Gurrawad

H

FAVING in the preceding chapter given an account of the equipment and route of the vessels from Bombay to the Pelew Islands, together with such matter as I thought might be of use and benefit to those whom either misfortune or design may hereafter bring into these seas, I resume the account from the ships having anchored.

"On the 22d January some canoes were seen, which seemed to avoid the ships, notwithstanding the signals that were made to them; it was therefore concluded that the persons in the canoes were either enemies of Abba Thulle, or going express to him with an account of the arrival of the English. One of the boats being hoisted out, lieutenant Wedgeborough was sent in her to examine a channel to the westward of the place where the ships lay, and also to gain an intercourse with the natives. Soon after the boat had left the ship, and was got amongst the islands, three canoes came alongside the Panther, having in them several people who recollected Mr. White, although so many years had elapsed since his sailing from Oroolong; one of them, a rupack, immediately came on board, and calling out White, caught him in his arms, and giving him a most affectionate and ardent squeeze, seemed almost distracted with joy, calling for all his people to come and embrace their friend; he then took him into his canoe to get some sweet drink. Mr.

Wedgeborough's reception was nearly the same; the account he gives is, that as soon as he got amongst the islands, the boat was surrounded with canoes; the natives, as soon as they heard him speak their language (of which he had gained some knowledge, when he was cast away with captain Wilson), and understood that they were English, expressed their joy by acclamations and gestures little short of madness; pointing to Oroolong, and calling it Englishman's land, and then immediately inquired for Lee Boo. Upon asking them the reason why they did not come to the ships, they said they did not know who they were, but had sent canoes to acquaint Abba Thulle, and expected him soon. As it was drawing towards evening, the natives invited them to land, and there to wait for the king. They again inquired for Lee Boo; and on being told his fate, and the disease of which he died, they appeared composed and satisfied: being asked what was become of Madan Blanchard, the person that remained behind, when captain Wilson and the crew of the Antelope left the islands, they said he was at Cooroora, but soon declined the conversation respecting him. The king not being arrived at sun-set, the boat was returning on board with two of the natives; but they had not proceeded far from the shore, before they saw a number of canoes pulling very fast, and among them one having a great

number

number of paddles. The natives told Mr. Wedgeborough, that it was the king's canoe; and as they very soon drew near, he could, by the manner with which the men flourished their paddles, discover the king was in her; they therefore waited his coming, and at half past six in the evening, Mr. Wedgeborough says, "I had the unspeakable pleasure of once more being embraced by the benevolent Abba Thulle." They then proceed ed together in the king's canoe towards the Panther; on their way, Mr.Wedgeborough acquainted him with the death of Lee Boo: the manner of receiving this information, I shall give in Mr. Wedgeborough's own words. "His countenance, which before bore the most evident marks of joy, became composed and thoughtful; and after remaining some time silent, as if wishing to recollect himself, he exclaimed, "Weel, weel, weel a treooy! (in English, Good, good, very good)." The king then paused a little, as if to gain relief; but on his again entering on the melancholy subject, he said, he never entertained a doubt of the goodness of the English, or the captain, but rested assured that they would cherish and take care of his son. That the return of the ships with his friends the English, convinced him his opinion was right, when he gave Lee Boo to the care of captain Wilson: that he had counted upon the line the captain had given him, as far as one hundred knots, or moons, and then despairing of ever seeing his son or the captain again, he had caused the line to be buried, supposing that the vessel which the English had built at Englishman's island (Oroolong) was not large enough to carry them in safety to China, as they had sailed before the

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good moon set in. He then mentioned the death of Blanchard, but frequently paused in reciting so melancholy a tale, many of his own family having been slain with him in battle. Scarcely had the king finished the sad conversation, before they reached the ship; captain M'Cluer received him at his entrance, and was most tenderly embraced by him: the king supposing him to be captain Wilson, instantly felt his wrist for the rupack's bone, and seemed greatly disappointed at not finding it, eagerly inquiring. what had been done with it. It being dark, the king was taken into the cabin, when he instantly found out his mistake, and earnestly asked where captain Wilson was, and the reason why he did not return to him? being answered that the captain was alive and well, and promoted to the command of a large ship (much larger than the Antelope), and too large to come among his islands till they were better known, he appeared satisfied: he was then informed, that, in consideration of his great kindness and humanity to captain Wilson, and the crew of the Antelope, the English East-India company had sent the vessels, with the gentlemen whom he now saw, together with his former acquaintance and friends, Messrs. Wedgeborough and White, to explain to him and his rupacks, the cause and manner of his son's death, and to bring a variety of articles for him and his people; and being shortly after shown some of the cattle, he was lost in amazement. After remaining on board about two hours, thinking his retinue, from their number and curiosity, were troublesome, he made a motion to retire, nor could any intreaties prevail upon him to sleep on board; for he said if he accept

ed the kindness, his people would all want the same indulgence, and that there would be no end to the trouble they should give; that he was sure all the crew must want rest after so long a voyage; but he requested Mr. White might accompany him to the shore, and stay the night, and one of his sons should remain on board until the morning, when he would return himself, and have the vessels conducted to Cooroora. The canoes were manned in an instant, and the benevolent Abba Thulle quitted the ship, quite composed and serene, being highly gratified at the return of his good friends.

"The reader will be inclined, no doubt, to pause for a moment, and to sympathise with Abba Thulle. Behold this untutored prince of nature struggling with the fond emotions of a parent, and contending with the tenderest and strongest passion of the human breast. Weel, weel, weel a trecoy, were words spoken from a heart full of resignation: for however severe the conflict might be, his gratitude to the English prompted him to keep his sorrow silent within his breast, and prevented him from pouring forth the feelings of his heart in fruitless lamentations. Let not the reader hastily misconstrue the composure and resignation of Abba Thulle, on his receiving the melancholy news, into indifference or insensibility of mind; for excess of sorrow does not always so truly describe misery, as it denotes weakness of mind. The composure and resignation of Abba Thulle, may in some measure be accounted for, from the circumstance of his burying the line, on which he had knotted one hundred moons; each an anxious memorandum of the absence of his son. More than

eight years having thus heavily passed away, he had given up every hope of again seeing him. The conduct which the king observed to all his subjects, will bear ample testimony both of the fortitude and goodness of his heart: and if it be true, that princes lay the best foundation for their own happiness, by studiously promoting that of their subjects, no one more fully merited being called father of his people, than the good Abba Thulle; all his actions appeared to spring from a magnanimity of mind invariably directed to the welfare of those he governed.

"I beg leave here to recal to the memory of my readers, the name of Mr. Keate, who finished his course of human frame on the 28th of June, 1797; his remains were interred on the north side of the communion table in Isleworth church. His works will be read by the learned and finished scholar with pleasure and instruction; and it is not easy to determine, whether to admire more the superior talents of his mind, or the excellent qualities of his heart.

"At day-light in the morning the vessels were surrounded by a number of canoes from the neighbouring islands, and about eight o'clock the king and Mr. White came alongside in the king's canoe, but he would not go on board on account of the number of people that accompanied him; for he by no means wished to incommode or impede the crew in the manage ment of their sails; he said he would therefore only put two or three people on board to point out the channel to Cooroora, while himself, accompanied by Mr. White, would precede them to his capital, and prepare for the reception of the English. Owing to a strong

current

current and unfavourable winds, the vessels did not arrive at their intended anchorage until the evening of the 26th.

"Mr. White's account of the behaviour of the natives, and the treatment he received during the absence of the vessels, was nearly as follows: soon after they left the ship they landed at a neighbouring island, where a supper was dressed for them, consisting of fish and yams. During the repast the king entered into conversation, and made many inquiries about the English, and after different people whose names he remembered, especially the boy Cobbledick, who used to sing to him. The fate of Blanchard was again anxiously in quired into by Mr. White; but the king touched on the melancholy subject but tenderly, and as it were in half sentences, being too much affected to dwell on it. Blanchard was killed in battle at Pellelew when the people of Cooroora made a conquest of that island, about five months before the arrival of the Panther and Endeavour. In this engagement, which seems to have been valiantly fought by both parties, besides Blanchard there were killed, on the part of Abba Thulle, his brother Raa Kook, Arra Kooker, and his favourite son Qui Bill, together with Arra Zook, and a great many of the old warriors particular friends to the crew of the Antelope. The inhabitants of Pellelew suffered severely in this conflict, most of their warriors being killed, and their women and children carried into captivity. Blanchard had a wife, but left no children; as a faithful narrator, I am sorry to state that the natives, in their account of him,

spake very indifferently of his conduct while among them, saying that he lived a rambling life, going about from house to house, and from pye to pye, and from his idleness making himself of very little estimation in the eyes of the rupacks; that when he wanted any thing he staid about the king, to whose family he was considered as belonging. Soon after the sailing of the vessel, to which they had given the name of Oroolong (and which conveyed captain Wilson and the crew of the Antelope to China), Blanchard left off wearing clothes, and was tatooed or marked like the other inhabitants; the arms and ammunition which captain Wilson left behind, the king took care of himself, not having sufficient confidence in Blanchard.

"On the afternoon of this day the vessels being again safe within the reefs, having anchored near to the island of Oroolong, Mr. Wedgeborough went to take a view of his old habitation in the cove, where the Antelope's crew built their vessel: he found it a perfect wilderness, the whole being overgrown with underwood, except the part where the cocoa nut trees grew which were planted by Raá Kook and Arra Kooker, they looked very flourishing, but had not as yet produced any fruit. The inscription which had been cut out upon copper and affixed to a tree there*, had been taken away by the natives of Pellelew; which was one cause of the war that had just then terminated.

"At day-light the ships got under sail, and about ten o'clock the king and Mr. White came on board to pilot them to the anchoring place; there being a fine steady

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