e only
partially verified, for the precautions taken, if they did not secure a
perfect immunity against fever, at least greatly diminished the number
of those who suffered from it. The abundance of fish either caught from
the ship or purchased from the natives formed a wholesome diet, aided
by the fruit, of which the natives brought off a very large quantity.
It was very varied, and much of it delicious; the mangosteens were
specially appreciated, and those who could overcome their repugnance to
the disgusting odor of the durians found them delicious eating. Besides
these were custard apples, bananas, and many other kinds of fruit;
all were very cheap and, upon the doctor's suggestion, a supply was
purchased daily for the use of the ship's company, and the sailors, who
had no other use for their money, laid out no small portion of their pay
on these luxuries.

The captain had taken every opportunity, when boats passed up the river,
to send messages and presents to the chiefs of the tribes higher up,
with assurances that he had not come up as an enemy, but that he desired
to be on good terms with all, and would gladly see any of them who would
come down to pay him a visit, and would guarantee their safe return
without molestation on the part of Sehi. No answers had, however, been
received to these overtures, and a proposal he made to the rajah to
send some of the ship's boats up the river to endeavor to bring about
an understanding between him and his neighbors was received with extreme
disfavor.

CHAPTER V.

So far, nothing had been seen of the rajah's prahus. When questioned on
the subject, he replied that they were all down on the coast, trading
with the natives; but it was so improbable that they should have been
sent away while the rajah was in fear of an attack by his neighbors that
no credence was given to the assertion. The ship's boats often went out
for long rows on the river, ostensibly--as the captain told the rajah,
who inquired suspiciously as to the meaning of these excursions--for the
sake of giving the crews active exercise, but principally in order to
take soundings of the river, and to investigate the size and positions
of the creeks running into it. One day the gig and cutter had proceeded
farther than usual; they had started at daybreak, and had turned off
into what seemed a very small creek, that had hitherto been unexplored,
as from the width of its mouth it was supposed to extend but a sh