Whether the road is open, he cannot say.

The news he learned, from the tumangong's people, was that there was a great deal of fighting going on between Johore and some of the petty rajahs.

What the position is, at the present, moment he could not discover.
"I should propose that we drop anchor off the place; and that, if we find the natives well disposed, the interpreter should make an arrangement, with a couple of natives, to carry up a letter from me to the rajah, saying that I have come on a matter of business from the Governor of India; and asking if he is willing to receive me, and to guarantee my safety.

If he says no, there is an end to it.
If he says yes, I shall start as soon as the answer comes." "Would you take some blue jackets with you ?" "No.

If we were attacked by a force of Malays, we should probably be annihilated even if I took half your ship's company.