The Admiral Sent A Boat To Them, In Which Was A Negro
Who Could Speak The Moresco[58] Language, Which Is Much Used In Java.
But, Being Frightened At The Approach Of The Boat, They All Got On Shore
And Ran Away Into The Woods.
One of them, however, came back to the
shore, on being called to by the negro, and directed where
To find fresh
water; besides which, he undertook to carry a message to the king of
that part of the island from the admiral, certifying that he had come to
purchase victuals, or any commodities the country afforded. In
consequence of this message, nine or ten canoes belonging to the king
came off, on the 12th March, loaded with all sorts of provisions as deep
as they could swim; bringing oxen, hogs, hens, geese, eggs, sugar,
cocoa-nuts, plantains, oranges, lemons, wine, and arrack.
[Footnote 58: Probably the Malay is here meant, and called Moresco or
Moors, an ordinary term for Mahometans. - E.]
At the same time two Portuguese came off to visit Candish, and to
enquire about their king, Don Antonio, then residing in England. These
persons gave him a full account of the manners and customs of the people
of this island. The king of this part was held in prodigious awe by his
subjects, over whom he exercised absolute power, insomuch that no man
was permitted to make a bargain without his leave, on pain of death. He
had an hundred wives, and his son fifty; who may possibly be happy
enough while he lives; but when he dies, and his body is burnt, and the
ashes collected into an urn, the tragedy of his wives begins five days
afterwards.
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