article, a spike-nail or a shirt, neither of which I had to give her, and soon made them sensible of my poverty.  I thought, by that means, to have come off with flying colours; but I was mistaken; for they gave me to understand I might retire with her on credit.  On my declining this proposal, the old lady began to argue with me; and then abuse me.  Though I comprehended little of what she said, her actions were expressive enough, and shewed that her words were to this effect, sneering in my face, saying, What sort of a man are you, thus to refuse the embraces of so fine a young woman?  For the girl certainly did not want beauty; which, however, I could better withstand, than the abuses of this worthy matron, and therefore hastened into the boat.  They wanted me to take the young lady aboard; but this could not be done, as I had given strict orders, before I went ashore, to suffer no woman, on any pretence whatever, to come into the ship, for reasons which I shall mention in another place.

As soon as the surgeon got ashore, he dressed the man’s wounds, and bled him; and was of opinion that he was in no sort of danger, as the shot had done little more than penetrate the skin.  In the operation, some poultice being wanting, the surgeon asked for ripe plantains; but they brought sugar-cane, and having chewed it to a pulp, gave it him to apply to the wound.  This being of a more balsamic nature than the other; proves that these people have some knowledge of simples.  As soon as the man’s wounds were dressed, I made him a present, which his master, or at least the man who owned the canoe, took, most probably to himself.  Matters being thus settled apparently to the satisfaction of all parties, we repaired on board to dinner, where I found a good supply of fruit and roots, and, therefore, gave orders to get every thing in readiness to sail.

I now was informed of a circumstance which was observed on board; several canoes being at the ship, when the great guns were fired in the morning, they all retired, but one man, who was bailing the water out of his canoe, which lay alongside directly under the guns.  When the first was fired, he just looked up, and then, quite unconcerned, continued his work.  Nor had the second gun any other effect upon him.  He did not stir till the water was all out of his canoe, when he paddled leisurely off.  This man had, several times, been observed to take fruit and roots out of other canoes, and sell them to us.  If the owners did not willingly part with them, he took them by force; by which he obtained the appellation of custom-house officer.  One time, after he had been collecting tribute, he happened to be lying alongside of a sailing canoe which was on board.  One of her people seeing him look another way, and his attention otherwise engaged, took the opportunity of stealing somewhat out of his canoe; they then put off, and set their sail.  But the man, perceiving the trick they had played him, darted after them, and having