t I succeeded in appeasing
their indignation against these robbers, whom they now had in their
power, but when I told them that I should look upon their compliance as
a proof of their regard for me and my brethren, they were satisfied,
and made, of their own accord, a passage through their ranks, for the
Malays. Their appearance was indeed formidable, as they stood on each
side, armed with their spears and bludgeons. The Malays however were
still afraid to leave the house, till, after much entreaty, I myself
agreed to accompany them to their palongs. The prince seized my hand,
and would not let me go, till he had got into the boat.

I thought it my duty to avail myself of this opportunity to impress
these ferocious invaders of our islands, with some sense of the danger
they were in, and to teach them, that they might not always he
permitted to commit their depredations with impunity. For a time I
believe it had a good effect: but I confess, that I felt not a little
intimidated by this unpleasant visit, and much regretted the necessity
of holding the office, and doing the duty of a Resident, or agent of
government. God was my refuge, and had He not granted me presence of
mind sufficient to avoid all show of the fear I felt, we should
probably have fallen a sacrifice to the revengeful and murderous spirit
of these barbarians.

Sayet Ismael returned to us that very night, with his recovered prow
and cargo, thankful for the justice which he had obtained, and as he
offered us his services, we intrusted him with a parcel of letters to
our Brethren in Europe, which we found he had regularly forwarded, as
they all came safe to hand.

The prince had talked of nothing on the way to Tricut, but of the
wonderful power of the Missionaries, and declared, that he would
certainly never again set foot on Nancauwery.

You must, by this time, be quite tired of reading these fragments. I
hope I have succeeded in giving you some idea of our situation in the
Nicobar islands, and of the circumstances, by which our attempts to
convert the natives to Christianity were frustrated. I bless the Lord
my Saviour, for preserving me in the midst of all trouble and danger,
and if I appear to you to have endured some sufferings in body and
mind, in the East Indies, more especially by the total failure of our
endeavours to gain souls for Christ from among the heathen, in the
place to which we were sent, I call upon you now to praise the Lord
with me