e. I of course could do nothing else than face
about, and with my new friend accompany the guard. The men were armed
with formidable long spears and daggers, but the officer carried a
musket, which looked more like an ensign of authority than a weapon to
be used. As I returned through the courtyard I considered what I should
say to the chief. "Tell the truth and be not afraid," said conscience.
I determined to do so.

When I re-entered the hall of audience, the chief was seated on his
divan, and evidently intended to receive me in greater state. Some of
the assemblage sat down cross-legged on cushions in front of the divan,
while others stood with their bodies bent forward on either side, the
guards who remained turning their backs on the great man. The Dutchman
and I took our seats on cushions directly below the divan. I found
afterwards that among the Javanese a sitting posture is considered more
respectful than an upright one. The chief, through the Dutch
interpreter, now asked me a number of questions, which, according to my
previous determination, I answered correctly. The great man, I thought,
looked somewhat surprised at finding that I was not so important a
person as he had at first supposed.

Occasionally my Dutch friend remarked that I had better not reply to
some of the questions put to me, but I answered that I was perfectly
ready to stand by the consequences of anything I might say. Such has
been my practice through life--I might say, more modestly, my
endeavour--to do right on all occasions, to avow whatever I have done,
and to take the consequences, whatever they may be. I do not say that
such a mode of proceeding may not occasionally get a man seemingly into
trouble, but I do say that it is the only right course, and that he is
equally certain to get out of it again; whereas an opposite course must
lead him into difficulties, and involve him more and more as he tries to
extricate himself by prevarication, subterfuge, or falsehood. I
therefore told the chief that I had come on shore hoping to open up a
trade with him, under the belief that the country was no longer either
in possession of the Dutch or French, but that it was now under the rule
of England. If I was mistaken I was ready to undergo the penalty, and
must run the risk of being treated as a prisoner of war should I fall
into the hands of the French, but that as the English were the friends
of the rulers and people of Java, I expec