stranger who came in friendship to visit them ; and, without waiting
till the interpreter had finished his duty, I rose from the circle and
retired to my waggon, declaring, that as they had taken the gun from
me against my consent, they might now keep it as their own; but
that, for myself, I should instantly quit their country. These words,
which were understood by Champani, and perhaps by several others
who were present, were immediately communicated to them, and to
all who were then in the enclosure, the number of which was about
a hunTdhreed w. hole mootsi was now a scene of debate; and every coun-
tenance became serious. The assembly broke up ; and Mattivi seated
himself with a small party in one corner of the enclosure. My own
men, fearing the worst consequences, came round me, and earnestly
entreated me rather to allow the affair to take any course which the
natives might desire, than to irritate a people, who had it m their
power to put us all to death before the morning. My interpreter
anxiously begged me to desist from further contention, as he knew
not what might be the result. Speelman, in the greatest trepidation,
declared, that could he have foreseen that I should ever have brought
my people into so dangerous a situation, he would never have
engaged himself for the journey. • j Mattivi’s brothers and sons, with several others, continued
passing to and fro before the waggon, anxiously looking in as they
walked by, to discover, what were my movements or what steps I
appeared about to take; as, it seems, they were apprehensive that I
should give orders for leaving the town immediately. Had I done
this, they would have been in a state of great hesitation, respecting
the measures they were to adopt; whether to detain me, which act
they feared would put an end to all future confidence between
them and the Colony; or whether to allow me to depart, by which
they would have lost all further advantages from my visit. As they
passed, I could read disappointment and uncertainty in their countenances:
but this, my men construed in a very different manner.
Gert, Speelman, and Muchunka were, in the greatest agitation,
giving me their advice, when Mollemmi, having Champani with him,
came and seated himself on the after-chest of the- waggon. He
seemed dejected, and said nothing. I repeated, that he must be aware
that taking advantage of a stranger who visited them as a friend, was
not. the way in. which I ought to be received; and that they had not
rested from their endeavours, till they had taken from me that which
they knew I did not wish to give up. At last he replied, that
Mattivi and all the people were much distressed at hearing that I
thought they meant to take the gun from me in any unfriendly
manner. They were yesterday rejoiced at finding that they had at
length gotten into their possession, that which they had so much
wished for; but now they were sad, because they saw me displeased.
He had long meditated on accompanying me back to Cape Town;
but now he felt great disappointment, as he feared that I should
give our Chief an unfavorable opinion of his nation; which would
prevent his intended journey.
So submissive and unexpected a confession, I looked upon as the
termination of our dispute, since my only object in acting as I had
done, was, not to recover my gun, nor to obtain a greater number of
oxen, but to give a check to a growing spirit of intimidation and
imposition, which I feared would, if not timely prevented, occasion
us serious difficulties.
I replied; unless men acted according to their promise and
agreement, it would be impossible for me ever to rely on their word;
that as I came to Litakun as a friend, I wished, and hoped, to leave
it as one ; that I desired nothing more earnestly than to be on good
terms with every body, and that I should be sorry if Mattivi did not
feel equally friendly towards m e: and to convince him that I still was
desirous of his friendship, and ready to gratify his wishes as far as it
was in my power, I would make him a present of as much powder
and ball as I could safely spare; and that, with respect to the subject
in dispute, I should leave him to his own conscience to do whatever
he thought just and right, and should urge that affair no farther; for,
if the Bachapins really cared for the good opinion of the white-people,
I was certain that they would in every respect act fairly in their
dealings with me.
VOL. II. 3 H