n their return to the cabin,
found that the king had sent them, as a present, two complete Mahometan
dresses, with turbans. These were welcome, for their own garments were
sadly tattered, and very unfit for exposure to the burning sun of those
climes. Their peaked hats, too, collected the rays of heat, which were
intolerable; and they gladly exchanged them for the white turban.
Secreting their money in the Malayan sash, which formed a part of the
attire, they soon robed themselves in the native garments, the comfort
of which was immediately acknowledged. After a long consultation, it
was decided that they should accept the terms offered by the king, as
this was the only feasible way by which Philip could hope to re-obtain
possession of Amine. Their consent was communicated to the king on the
following day, and every preparation was made for the expedition.

And now was to be beheld a scene of bustle and activity. Hundreds and
hundreds of peroquas, of every dimension, floating close to the beach,
side by side, formed a raft extending nearly half a mile on the smooth
water of the bay, teeming with men, who were equipping them for the
service: some were fitting the sails; others were carpentering where
required; the major portion were sharpening their swords, and preparing
the deadly poison of the pine-apple for their creeses. The beach was a
scene of confusion: water in jars, bags of rice, vegetables, salt-fish,
fowls in coops, were everywhere strewed about among the armed natives,
who were obeying the orders of the chiefs, who themselves walked up and
down, dressed in their gayest apparel, and glittering in their arms and
ornaments. The king had six long brass four-pounders, a present from an
Indian captain; these, with a proportionate quantity of shot and
cartridges, were (under the direction of Philip and Krantz) fitted on
some of the largest peroquas, and some of the natives were instructed
how to use them. At first, the king, who fully expected the reduction
of the Portuguese fort, stated his determination to go in person, but in
this he was overruled by his confidential advisers, and by the request
of Philip, who could not allow him to expose his valuable life. In ten
days all was ready, and the fleet, manned by seven thousand men, made
sail for the island of Tidore.

It was a beautiful sight, to behold the blue rippling sea, covered with
nearly six hundred of these picturesque craft, all under sail, and
d