was thought lightly of, but they rejoiced that they had seen the village, and immediately sent Pascoe, Ibrahim and Jowdie, in company to obtain some fire, and to purchase some yams.  In about ten minutes after, they returned in haste, telling them that they had been to the village, and asked for some fire, but that the people did not understand them, and instead of attending to their wishes, they looked terrified, and had suddenly disappeared.  In consequence of their threatening attitudes, Pascoe and his party had left the village, and hastened back to their masters.

Totally unconscious of danger, the Landers were reclining on their mats, for they too, like their people, were wearied with toil, and overcome with drowsiness, when in about twenty minutes after their men had returned, one of them shouted with a loud voice, “War is coming, O war is coming!” and ran towards them with a scream of terror, telling them, that the natives were hastening to attack them.  They started up at this unusual exclamation, and looking about them, they beheld a large party of men, almost naked, running in a very irregular manner, and with uncouth gestures, towards their little encampment.  They were all variously armed with muskets, bows and arrows, knives, cutlasses, barbs, long spears, and other instruments of destruction; and as they gazed upon this band of wild men, with their ferocious looks and hostile appearance, which was not a little heightened on observing the weapons in their hands, they felt a very uneasy kind of sensation, and wished themselves safe out of their hands.

Their party was at this time much scattered, but fortunately they could see them coming to them at some distance, and they had time to collect their men.  They resolved, however, to prevent bloodshed, if possible; their numbers were too few to leave them a chance of escaping by any other way.  The natives were approaching fast, and had nearly arrived close to the palm tree.  Not a moment was to be lost.  They desired Pascoe and all their men to follow behind them at a short distance, with the loaded muskets and pistols; and they enjoined them strictly not to fire, unless they were first fired at.  One of the natives, who proved to be the chief, was perceived to be a little in advance of his companions, and throwing down their pistols, which they had snatched up in the first moment of surprise, the two Landers walked very composedly and unarmed towards him.  As they approached him, they made all the signs and motions they could with their arms, to deter him and his people from firing on them.  His quiver was dangling at his side, his bow was bent, and an arrow, which was pointed at their breasts, already trembled on the string, when they were within a few yards of his person.  This was a highly critical moment—­the next might be their last.  But the hand of Providence averted the blow, for just as the chief was about to pull the fatal cord, a man that was nearest him rushed