Page 359
An. 1686
The Natives caress them.
number of those, that accompanied Captain Har- ris over the Isthmus of Darien, the rest of us being poor enough. Nay the very poorest and meanest of us could hardly pass the Streets, but we were even hal'd by force into their houfes, to be treated by them; altho their Treats were but mean, viz. Tobacco, or Betel-nut, or a little sweet spiced Wa- ter. Yet their seeming sincerity. fimplicity, and the manner of bestowing these Gifts, made them very acceptable. When we came to their houfes they would always be praising the English, as decla- ring that the English and Mindanaians were all one. This they exprett by putting their two fore-fingers close together,and faying that the English and Minda- naians were famo,famo,that is all one. Then they would draw their fore-fingers half a foot afunder, and fay the Dutch and they were Bugeto, which signifies so, that they were at fuch diftance in point of friend- fhip: and for the Spaniards, they would make a greater reprefentation of diftance than for the Dutch: fearing these, but having felt, and fmarted from the Spaniards, who had once almoft brought them under.
Captain Swan did seldom go into any houfe at firft,but into Raja Laut's. There he dined commonly every day; and as many of his men as were ashore, and had no money to entertain themselves, resort- ed thither about 12 a clock, where they had Rice enough boiled and well dreft, and fonie fcraps of Fowls, or bits of Buffaloe, dreft very naftily. Ca tain Swan was ferved a little better, and his tv Trumpeters founded all the time that he was at di: ner. After dinner Raja Laut would fit and difcourf with him moft part of the afrternoon. It was now the Ramdam time, therefore the General ex- cufed himfelf, that he could not entertain our Captain with dances, and other paftimes, as he intended to do when this folemn time was paft; besides,