After the dancing in the hut was ended, Gert came to my
waggon, where I desired him to remain, as I found him sometimes
useful in explaining in the Kora language, some expressions which
Muchunka could not comprehend. Mattivi and Mollemmi being, as
already stated, brothers by the same mother who was a Kora, were,
from this circumstance, both well acquainted with that tongue:
Molaali and Mahura, in features and figure more resembled the true
Bichuana or Caffre, and being the sons of another woman, were
therefore but half-brothers to the other two. Now it happened, in
this respect fortunately, that Gert by his long residence at Klaarwater,
had acquired some proficiency in the Kora dialect, which was facilitated
by his own knowledge of the Hottentot language; for he was
thus enabled to rectify several of A'tuchujikd s interpretations, when the
latter made use of that dialect in explaining what I had said. These
mistakes of my interpreter arose, at this time, both from heedlessness
and from an insufficient acquaintance with the Dutch. Mollemmi,
who professed friendship towards me, declared on this occasion that
he was truly glad that Gert had been able to explain my real meaning,
as it caused him to feel still more my friend than before. He repeated
the request, that I would allow him and his brothers to have
the first choice of all the beads which I had brought for barter.
When I was again alone, Mattivi came with one of his wives,
to bring me a pot of thick milk, and for which I paid her in
tobacco. I then desired him to come into the waggon, and having
sent for Gert and Muchunka, I showed him the things which I had
brought as a present for himself, independently of the rest of his
family for whom I intended some other articles of less value.
The present which he received at this time, consisted of, a
quantity of beads of the favorite colors, white, black, and light blue,
and weighing all together nearly five pounds; a small roll of tobacco,
of three pounds; a brass pocket-tinderbox and steel, made expressly
for lighting a pipe; a sheath-knife; a cotton handkerchief; a snuffbox
; and a gilt chain.
Both in the selection, and in the quantity, of these articles, I was
guided by the advice of the Klaarwater people, who considered them
as forming a very handsome present. I should, otherwise, not have
thought so, and without such advice, should certainly have given
much more; which would have been not only useless generosity, but
would have established a precedent which in time might become a
heavy tax upon every individual who in future might' make a journey
into these countries; and those who, because the value is trifling,
make in similar cases larger presents than would be looked for, are
guilty of imprudence in themselves, and of injustice towards all of
their own countrymen who may come after them, and from whom a
tribute, gradually increasing in amount, will be expected, till at
length in the course of years, it may form not so inconsiderable a
part of the expence of a visit to the nations of the Interior, as it
does at present.
With these things, Mattivi was much pleased, as they were all
such; the use and value of which he understood : and it is this consideration
which should guide those who wish their presents to be
acceptable. It is certain that he would have preferred the brass
tinderbox to a gold watch; and the sheath-knife, to a case of
mathematical instruments. As the best mode of expressing his
satisfaction and gratitude, if this latter word does not imply too much,
he assured me that all the elephants’ teeth which he could procure,
should be reserved for me when I came again; that he should let
nobody else have them, and that I might therefore depend bn having
an opportunity of purchasing as much ivory as my waggons could
carry away.
His ideas respecting my object in coming to Litakun, were
formed upon the visits of missionaries who had made journeys to
this country, two of whom in particular, as I was informed at Klaarwater,
had carried on this species of traffic for ivory with so much
success that one was enabled to purchase a farm in the Colony;
though the other, who had also made considerable profits, was
unfortunately murdered near the source of the Kruman river.
It is remarkable that in the Sichuana language there is no word
to express thanks; and whenever I desired my interpreter to say to
any of the natives that I thanked them, I often heard him make use