moment for bringing forward the presents which I intended making
to the Chief, he advised that I should wait till another opportunity,
as he knew, he said, that Mattivi would be better pleased if they
were given to him when quite alone.
At length Mattivi rose, and without ceremony, or speaking to
any one, left the assembly. I remained a few minutes after; but on
ascertaining that he would not return, I quitted the circle also, and
retired to my waggon ; on which, the chieftains rose, and the crowd
dispersed.
During this interview, which lasted little more than three
quarters of an hour, the principal object of my attention had been
to discover, if possible, the character of the man to whom I was
about to commit myself, and on whose dealings so much depended.
But his silence baffled all power of guessing; yet I thought I
could discern through all this affectation of dignity, indications of a
want of mind and of that which constitutes real dignity. To have
expected to find this last quality in him, was not expecting more
than was possible, since it is as much the gift of nature as of refined
education; and an uncultivated savage may often possess it in a
higher degree, than those whom art would elevate, but to whom
nature has refused her support. Although I observed nothing which
could be considered as prepossessing in his favor; yet the impressions
of a first interview had not disappointed the expectations which
I had allowed myself to entertain of his character.
To make use of the word king when speaking of such a man, or
of queens, princes, or princesses, to designate his wives, sons, or
daughters, would betray a childish vanity which, instead of adding
importance to my journal, would only, serve to give extremely false
notions of the persons whom it means to describe. I am content
with humble terms for expressing humble things. It is, I may be
excused for saying, very faf from being the object of this narrative,
to create an interest in it by any of the arts of exaggeration ; among
which, that of elevating the character of ideas by false names, or of
depressing it by similar means, is not the least dishonest.
Scarcely had I seated myself in the waggon, when another crowd
formed itself. From the first, all women, girls, and boys had been
excluded ; but now the throng consisted entirely of these. In order
to get sight of me, they had arranged themselves in a long line,
extending from the back of the waggon, the end usually open; so
that they might look into it, and have a full view. This was a
scene as amusing and interesting to me as to them.; and therefore
to gratify both parties, I seated myself forward; by which a greater
multitude were enabled to see at once. They talked a great deal,
and in a very familiar and lively manner; but unfortunately their
volubility of utterance prevented my distinguishing a single word;
and my interpreter had at this time left me to myself. At last,
that important word muchvko was often repeated by those who stood
nearest: on which I endeavoured to tell them, by a combination
of words and signs, that I could not give them any tobacco till
Mattivi had received some, This mode of conversing, being, I supposed,
quite unintelligible to them, appeared to afford these Bachapin
ladies much amusement. At this moment Muchunka, seeing me so
completely beset by this curious good-humoured crowd, came to my
assistance ; and explained to them what I had been endeavouring to
say. One of those who had been importuning for tobacco, was the
wife of the Chief; but notwithstanding her rank, she was as little
successful as the rest. This crowd was composed only of the wives,
younger daughters and sons, of the richer inhabitants; those of a
lower class were not permitted to approach me till a day or two
afterwards. They continued standing in this manner for. some time,
till they had satisfied their curiosity; on which they returned to their
homes.
Soon after this, Mattivi, Serrakutu, and MoIIomini, came and
took their seats in the waggon. As they appeared to have no other
object • than that of mere curiosity, I took out my vocabulary and
read various sentences to them in their own language. These, as my
pronunciation was not unintelligible, seemed to afford them considerable
amusement; and Muchunka did not fail to let them khow
that I had learnt them from him. But though they appeared pleased,
they exhibited none of that surprise which I have described as having
been witnessed on a former occasion; and even Muchunka’s astonishv
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