The second mate and Roger remained on board with the starboard
watch, the drawing giving the advantage to the others; and these,
with the captain and first mate, were soon rowing towards the
shore. Those on board, although disappointed that fate had decided
against them, had their share of amusement, for a good many canoes
afterwards came off to them, filled with goods for barter; and as
the captain, before leaving, had told the second mate that he could
buy and sell with those who came out, a brisk trade was soon
established.
They had no fear of treachery from the natives, who were in such
dread of the white men that they would not venture to lift a hand
against them, however great the odds might be; and they were,
therefore, allowed to come on board and mix freely with the
sailors. The contents of the canoes, chiefly fruit and vegetables,
were spread out on the deck, and the mate and Roger bargained with
them, giving them little looking glasses, and strings of beads, in
exchange for their wares.
"They are mighty reasonable in their demands," Roger said to
Pengarvan. "It seems almost a shame to take these great baskets of
fruit and vegetables, in return for such trifles."
"They are not trifles to them," the mate replied, "and there is
nothing unfair in the exchange. These things are to them what gold
and jewels are to us. We would give, gladly, a score of boatloads
of vegetables for a diamond the size of a pea; and these glass
beads are as valuable, in their eyes, as diamonds are in ours."
After buying up the main stock, they trafficked with the natives
for the little ornaments they wore, necklaces and bracelets
cunningly worked with bright shells and seeds, and weapons of
curiously carved wood. At nightfall the other boats returned, laden
down with fruit and vegetables.
"'We must buy no more of these commodities, at present," Captain
Reuben said, when he saw what had been purchased on board. "We have
got enough to last us as long as they will keep, eat we never so
heartily;" and indeed, the next day a number of the crew were ill,
from the quantity of fruit that they consumed.
This, however, soon passed off, and the change of diet did great
good. The scurvy disappeared, and in a short time all--even those
who had suffered most--were again fit for duty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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