A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 14 eBook

Robert Kerr (writer)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 822 pages of information about A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 14.

A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 14 eBook

Robert Kerr (writer)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 822 pages of information about A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 14.

Soon after we were conducted to the theatre; where we were entertained with a dramatic heuva, or play, in which were both dancing and comedy.  The performers were five men, and one woman, who was no less a person than the king’s sister.  The music consisted of three drums only; it lasted about an hour and a half, or two hours; and, upon the whole, was well conducted.  It was not possible for us to find out the meaning of the play.  Some part seemed adapted to the present time, as my name was frequently mentioned.  Other parts were certainly wholly unconnected with us.  It apparently differed in nothing, that is, in the manner of acting it, from those we saw at Ulielea in my former voyage.  The dancing-dress of the lady was more elegant than any I saw there, by being decorated with long tassels, made of feathers, hanging from the waist downward.  As soon as all was over, the king himself desired me to depart; and sent into the boat different kinds of fruit and fish, ready dressed.  With this we returned on board; and the next morning he sent me more fruit, and several small parcels of fish.

Nothing farther remarkable happened till ten o’clock in the evening, when we were alarmed with the cry of murder, and a great noise, on shore, near the bottom of the bay, at some distance from our encampment.  I suspected that it was occasioned by some of our own people; and immediately armed a boat, and sent on shore, to know the occasion of this disturbance, and to bring off such of our people as should be found there.  I also sent to the Adventure, and to the post on shore, to know who were missing; for none were absent from the Resolution but those who were upon duty.  The boat soon returned with three marines and a seaman.  Some others belonging to the Adventure were also taken; and, being all put under confinement, the next morning I ordered them to be punished according to their deserts.  I did not find that any mischief was done, and our people would confess nothing.  I believe this disturbance was occasioned by their making too free with the women.  Be this as it will, the natives were so much alarmed, that they fled from their habitations in the dead of the night, and the alarm spread many miles along the coast.  For when I went to visit Otoo, in the morning, by appointment, I found him removed, or rather fled, many miles from the place of his abode.  Even there I was obliged to wait some hours, before I could see him at all; and when I did, he complained of the last night’s riot.

As this was intended to be my last visit, I had taken with me a present suitable to the occasion.  Among other things were three Cape sheep, which he had seen before and asked for; for these people never lose a thing by not asking for it.  He was much pleased with them; though he could be but little benefited, as they were all weathers; a thing he was made acquainted with.  The presents he got at this interview entirely removed his fears, and opened his heart so much, that

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A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 14 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.