A VOYAGE TO BORNEO.

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afliore, in which went our purfer, and Mr. Richardfon, who fpeaks the language. Igave them arms, and cautioned them to be always upon their guard, to ufe themcivilly, and let them know that we wanted only provifions, wood and water ; forwhich we would pay very honeftly. Now there was a Chinefe among them, as a *fhabander, who, feeing our colours, knew us to be Englilh, and told the King whatwe were, affuring him that we were not Dutch , of whom they are very jealous ; andindeed not without reafon, many cruelties having been exercifed by them in theweftern part of the ifland. Upon thefe. afluranees, the King feeing the boat make towardsfhore, came himfelf in a flying praw, with his colours difplayed, gongs beating, andfeveral attendants in other boats, to meet ours a little way off from fhore.

After knowing by enquiry, who they were, and what they wanted, the King toldthem they were welcome, and fhould be fupplied ; defiring them to tell their captain,that he would be glad to fee him on fliore the next day. In the evening the boatreturned with fome fruit, &c. and gave me the foregoing account; adding, that theyfeemed to be hearty, civil people.

Accordingly, next morning, I went myfelf, with feveral others, befides abouttwelve failors, being all well armed. Before I reached the fliore, I was met by theKing, with his attendants, who welcomed me and told me, he was very defirousto fee my fliip, having never feen one in his life. I was much furprized at hisfreedom, in venturing fo fuddenly on board; but afterwards I underftood it wasowing to the aforefaid Chinefe, who affured him that the Englilh were very generous,civil people; that they traded to his country, though the Dutch were not fuffpredto come there, &c. I told him I would return with him, and alked if he wouldpleafe to come into my boat, which he readily complied with. He was drefled in afhort black velvet jacket, trimmed with narrow gold lace, an ill-lhaped red cap on hishead, with abundance of gold and ftone rings on his fingers. When we arrived onboard I made him heartily welcome, treating him with arrack and wine $ the formerhe drank very plentifully of, but the latter he did not fo much care for. He enquiredmy name, and fet it down, as I pronounced it, in his own writing, which he feemedto be very dextrous at; then he pronounced it very properly, and faid he wouldremember me if ever I came again. We then fet out all together in my boat for Ihore.

I ordered the gunner to fire fome guns, which he did, as foon as we got clear of thelhip ; wherewith the King was wonderfully pleafed, and returned me many thanks.His attendants were fuch prodigious thieves, that we had much ado to watch, andkeep them from ftealirrg during their flay on board. As to the King, for a rough,unpolifhed man, I think 1 never met a better in my life. When we landed, he con-duced us to his palace, which was a large fquare, palifadoed in, with feveral littlerooms and apartments for his women, &c. We were not long fat crofs-legged, whenhe made us an apology, and having drawn up five or fix of his oldiers, with match-locks, he faluted us by way of thanks for our great guns. Then he gave us a dinner,according to their beft manner, confiding of venifon, currees, rice, fowls, &c. Hisoran-cays kept all at a great diftance, and fhewed him very great refpect. He tookgreat delight in making fome of his attendants drunk with our arrack. We had notlong dined ere about thirty of his wives or concubines entered the place, and paffedby us one by one, each having a Have to attend her ; who bore on their heads fundryforts of the beft fruit, and prefented us with fo great a quantity, that it was more thanour boat could carry off at once. The King alfo prefented us with two oxen, threelarge deer, one buffaloe, and feveral bags of rice, with ducks, geefe, hens, &c.amounting full to the value, if not more, than what I prefented to him.

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