sitting-room, they concluded that I was still really asleep, especially
as I took the utmost care not to make the least noise, nor by any
movement, to catose the waggon to shake.
Having taken out as much of my beads and other goods, as I
judged sufficient for the purpose, I sent for Mattlvi and his brother.
They admired every thing, but the beads pleased them most. After
they had satisfied their curiosity, they sent many others to look at
them.
Among these was Adam, the Bachapin, whose singular history
has been mentioned, who as soon as we were alone, made me the
offer of eight oxen for the purchase of a gun. This of course, I
rejected at once; though I have little doubt that he would readily have
given more. This price may, to a European, sound much above the
value of the article for which it was proposed; but in reality it was
otherwise in this town : because, with only moderate success in hunting,
the owner would soon have repaid himself the quantity of meat
which he had given for it; after which, supposing he could obtain a
supply of ammunition, it would always provide more ready means of
support than the rearing of cattle, as long as the country abounded
in game. The money which a gun at that time cost in Cape Town,
if employed there in the purchase of beads, would at the usual rate
of barter in these countries, have obtained that number of oxen.
These statements will serve to illustrate Mattm’s character as displayed
in the following affair.
In the evening, at the time when all the numerous herds of the
town return home from pasture, the Chief sent for me to come and
sit with him in the circle of his brothers and attendant chieftains.
Unsuspicious of his motive for desiring my presence, I immediately
complied with his request; but when I had taken my seat, I found
that it was for the purpose of seeing the oxen which he intended to give
me for the gun. This step appeared to be very premature, as it had
been agreed that they were to receive the piece, only after my arrival
at Klaarwater, and I had no expectation that any further transaction
was to take place till then. But I now concluded that their object
was to bind me more surely to the performance of my promise, by
compelling me to accept, in consideration, something beforehand.
I began to feel that it was likely they Would outwit me, by thus forcing
me, either to confess that I did not mean to return again to that
village, or to complete my agreement by giving them the gun before
I left the town.
Soon afterwards, several Bachapins entered the mootsi, driving
before them two oxen, and followed by four men bearing two very
large tusks of ivory. These tusks might probably have weighed
about ninety pounds each, as they were too heavy to be carried by
one man. Mattivi then asked me if I thought the two oxen and the
teeth a satisfactory payment for the gun. I replied, that the ivory
was of no use to m e; and besides, that, if he set so little value on
the gun, it would be better that he gave up the idea of having it,
as at all events it would be a long time before I should reach Klaarwater.
This reply caused much earnest consultation among the
members of the council, the purport of which I could not learn.
They broke up soon after this, and nothing further was said on the
subject that evening.
16th. Early in the morning four oxen were produced for my
acceptance. By their following up the affair so closely, and by their
pertinaciously endeavouring to make me receive a payment beforehand,
I perceived that their intention was to establish a claim to have
immediate possession of their purchase. I had now put it out of my
power to break off the negotiation by a peremptory refusal to part
with any of my arms ; because I had consented, though under a remote
condition, to let them have a musket. There was no plea left,
by which I could save my gun, but that of objecting to the price ; and
though it was barely probable that they would relinquish it on that
account, I should at least gain, as some compensation, a greater
strength in oxen, a point on which no small share of our future
safety and success depended: for, to have hinted that it was intended
as a present, would leave me no excuse for withholding it
when it should be discovered that I was not returning to the place
appointed for receiving it. This plea, they must have been well
aware, might now be urged on reasonable grounds.
3 f 2