It's _fact_ that they prefer
human flesh to any other. But they don't like white men's flesh so well
as black; they say it makes them sick."
"Why, Bill," said I, "you told me just now that they would eat me if
they caught me."
"So I did, and so I think they would. I've only heard some o' them say
they don't like white men _so well_ as black; but if they was
hungry they wouldn't be particular. Anyhow, I'm sure they would kill
you. You see, Ralph, I've been a good while in them parts, and I've
visited the different groups of islands oftentimes as a trader. And
thorough-goin' blackguards some o' them traders are; no better than
pirates, I can tell you. One captain that I sailed with was not a chip
better than the one we're with now. He was trading with a friendly
chief one day, aboard his vessel. The chief had swum off to us with the
thing for trade tied atop of his head, for them chaps are like otters
in the water. Well, the chief was hard on the captain, and would not
part with some o' his things. When their bargainin' was over they shook
hands, and the chief jumped overboard to swim ashore; but before he got
forty yards from the ship the captain seized a musket and shot him
dead. He then hove up anchor and put to sea, and as we sailed along the
shore, he dropped six black fellows with his rifle, remarkin' that
'that would spoil the trade for the next comers.' But, as I was sayin',
I'm up to the ways o' these fellows.
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