The pilot schooner rounded the point in safety, and in less than an hour brought up abreast of a large village. The captain stated that before dinner was over the tide would be too slack to go further on, and that he should remain there during the ebb, and not weigh till early the next morning. If, therefore, Captain M--- and the gentlemen felt inclined to take a stroll after dinner, a boat was at their service. This was gladly assented to, and when dinner was over, the captain of the schooner ordered the boat to be manned, and, at the request of Captain M---, accompanied them on shore. On their landing, the flocking together of the inhabitants, and the noise of the music, announced that something more than usual was going on. On inquiry, the pilot captain informed them that the rajah of the village, who had ascended the river to perform his vows at some distant shrine, had not returned at the time that he was expected, and that the natives were afraid that some accident had occurred, and were in consequence propitiating the deity. "You will now have an opportunity of beholding a very uncommon sight, which is the propitiatory dance to Shivu. There is no occasion for hurrying on so fast, young gentleman," continued the captain to Courtenay; "they will continue it till midnight." "How excessively annoying that `captain of his own ship' is," observed Courtenay to Macallan. "`Young gentleman!' As if he could not see my epaulet." "And yet there is nothing particularly to be affronted about. You _have_ a very youthful appearance, and surely you are not displeased at being called a gentleman." "Why, no; but that is the reason why I am annoyed, because I cannot take it up."