He displayed, by signs, however, his satisfaction at the mode of his reception; and, after partaking of some liqueurs and sweetmeats, took his departure late in the evening from the ship, when he was again saluted with three guns, his band of music striking up one of their martial airs. His own people, when speaking to this chieftain, put their two hands upon their knees, and bent their bodies forward. He evidently kept up a very strict discipline among them, and they all treated him with the most reverential respect.

although they do not comprehend a word of each other's colloquial dialect. He says, it is a language addressed to the eye, and not to the ear-like the notes of a piece of music which are equally intelligible throughout the various European kingdoms. Another writer, in continuation on this subject, adds, as an illustration, the instance of the Roman numerals in our part of the world. Probably there was an error of the press here, for it is evident he had in view, not the Roman, but the Arabian numerals. The figures 1, 2, 3, 4, certainly afford a very ready illustration of these characters, as they convey, on looking at them, the same ideas to every man in Europe, although the people of the different nations, in speaking of the numerals themselves, would express them by sounds, very dissimilar.

During the night several boats were anchored near the Lyra, apparently to watch her motions; and early in the morning the same chief, accompanied by a still greater retinue, was seen embarking at the nearest village, and soon after he visited the Brig, where he breakfasted. He had in his train some secretaries, who employed themselves in noting down every thing relative to the ships which could be acquired by signs: the complement of men was described by pointing to them, and then holding up ten fingers a certain number of times; they counted the guns, examined the muskets, measured the decks, and made other remarks. A shot was fired, by express desire from one of the carronades; and the distance it went, but particularly its recochetting along the surface of the water, seemed to strike them with astonishment. After breakfast, a small party of the officers (Captains Maxwell, Hall, Messrs. Clifford, Law, and M'Leod) got into the boats with the view of landing at the village; and the old chief, thinking they were proceeding on board the frigate, left his own vessel

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and shifted into our gig, his other boats attending. But no sooner did he perceive the course directed to the shore than his countenance fell, and he seemed altogether in a state of great perturbation, making signs that he wished to go to the Alceste, and shaking his head when they pointed to the town.

Having reached the beach, the party landed, and were immediately surrounded by a concourse of people. The old chieftain hung his head, and clasped his hands in mournful silence; at last, bursting into a fit of crying, he was supported, sobbing all the way, to a little distance, where he sat down upon a stone, looking back at the officers with the most melancholy aspect. His feelings appeared to be those of a man who imagined some great calamity had befallen his country in the arrival of strange people; and that he was the unhappy being in whose government this misfortune had occurred.

The natives, who had in the mean time been driven by their soldiers to a respectful distance, stood gazing in astonishment

alternately at their afflicted chief and at our party.

Captain Maxwell, observing the distress it occasioned him, would permit no advance on our side; and, beckoning to him to come back, he arose, and slowly returned.

his

It was explained as well as could be done, that no injury was intended, and that we were friends. The old man then pointed to the sun; and, describing its revolving course four times, he drew his hand across his throat, and dropping his chin upon breast, shut his eyes, as if dead; intimating that in four days (probably the period in which an answer could arrive from Kinki-tao, the capital, for he also pointed to the interior) he should lose his head. One of his secretaries, or legal advisers (an amazingly long-winded man), squatted on the top of a large stone, now made an harangue of considerable length, the purport of which was evidently against the advance of the strangers. Signs were made by us for something to eat and drink (thinking hospitality might induce them to invite us

into their houses); but messengers were instantly despatched to the village, who brought down little tables, with mats to sit on, and some refreshments. These, however, not being our real objects, were not accepted, making them understand that it was unbecoming to offer them in that unsheltered manner, on the open beach; and, by way of a hint that this was not our mode of treating strangers, we invited them to return to the frigate, where they should dine handsomely, and meet with every respect. The old man, who had observed attentively, and seemed perfectly to comprehend the meaning of the signs used on this occasion, answered by going through the motions of eating and drinking with much appearance of liveliness and satisfaction, smiling and patting his stomach afterwards, to say all was very fine; then, looking extremely grave, he drew. his hand across his neck, and shut his eyes; as if to say, “What signifies your good dinners when I must "lose my head?"

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Perceiving it was impossible to penetrate farther into the interior without violence,