A fleet of canoes was now seen putting off from shore.  Advancing with great speed they soon reached the ship, which they surrounded, while one of their number, bearing two tawny chiefs, and a priest, who acted as an interpreter, made fast alongside.  The chiefs and the priest came speedily on board, and were welcomed by the commander, with no little ceremony.  And as the chiefs were decked out in a great profusion of feathers, and cloaks of as many colors as the rainbow, the general set them down for at least sons of the king, and commenced addressing them accordingly, when he was suddenly interrupted by the commander, who informed him that they were only messengers sent by the father, or chief magistrate of the village, to inquire for what object the ship was come.  And when informed of the great and important character of the mission, they presented the ambassador, as they were pleased to call the general, with two parrots and a male monkey, as a token of the friendship intended by their king, and also as a means of dispelling all apprehensions of evil designs.  This done, the priest was invited into the cabin, where, to his great delight, refreshments were served, to which were added sundry strong beverages, which he drank with such avidity and evident relish, that the commander began to have fears for the safety of his understanding.  Being a man of great compassion, the commander got the priest away.  Thereupon he joined the chief, and together they returned to make preparations for the reception of our hero and his secretary.  And when it was well nigh high noon, the general and his secretary disembarked amidst the booming of guns and the huzzas of the crew.  And although this afforded him no small amount of pleasure, he expressed great anxiety lest the landing of old Battle be delayed another minute; “for,” said he, “if it be necessary to make an impression on these savages, then let me have my horse, and you shall see how quick I will do it.”  As these little evidences of his weakness only served the more to divert the officers, they proceeded forthwith to effect the landing.  Scarcely had he set foot on shore, however, when he was surrounded by a swarm of tawny beings, naked almost to the buff, and so eager to get a sight at so great an ambassador, that they pressed forward with a clamor that threatened the most serious results to life and limbs, at the same time interposing a serious impediment to the progress of his train.  Nor did his great rotundity, and the queer figure he cut in his uniform tend to lesson their excitement; for they commenced capering round him, hooting, and performing the most amusing antics,-all of which he mistook for expressions of gratitude and joy.  But as it was a custom with our government to select for ministers men who could not understand one word of the language spoken at the court to which they were accredited, so in this instance did its results prove highly fortunate; for, as neither could understand a word the other said,