ls. Mr More was well
received, and many questions were asked him through an interpreter in
Spanish.

On being dismissed he found a supper prepared for him and his boat's
crew at Rajah Laut's house, after partaking of which he returned on
board. The inhabitants behaved to their visitors in the most friendly
way, insisting on their coming into their houses to be treated, although
their treats were but mean, consisting of tobacco and betel-nut and a
little sweet spiced water.

Rajah Laut, seeing so many of the men in fine clothes, asked who they
were, when he was told, as a joke, that they were noblemen, who had come
aboard to see the world, but that the rest, who had shabby garments,
were only common seamen.

After this he showed much respect to those who had good clothes, and
especially to one John Thacker, who, having husbanded his share of the
spoil, had plenty of gold in his pocket, which he liberally spent,
besides which he was a good dancer.

Captain Swan discovering this, undeceived the Rajah, and gave a drubbing
to the unfortunate nobleman, against whom he was so much incensed that
he could never afterwards bear to see him.

At this time Captain Swan had his men in such perfect subjection, that
he could punish whom he chose, and he might, had he wished, have induced
them to form a settlement on the island. During the Ramadan no
amusement of any sort took place on shore; but as soon as the feast was
over, Rajah Laut entertained Captain Swan and his officers with
performances of dancing women, such as are common over India. The
females of the place were especially addicted to dancing. Forty or
fifty would form a ring, joined hand in hand, and sing a chorus while
keeping time; though they never moved from the same spot, they would
make various gestures, now throwing forward one leg, now another, while
they shouted loudly and clapped their hands while the chorus was sung.

Much of the night was spent in this way. Many of the seamen who had
money lived on shore among the inhabitants, spending it in the too usual
profligate manner. Christmas Day was spent on board, and it was
expected that Captain Swan would then announce his intentions for the
future; but he kept them to himself, and no one could tell what he
intended to do.

He now received a secret visit from the nephew of a Sultan of one of the
Spice Islands, who came to invite him to form a settlement on shore,
provided he would defend the island fr