CHAPTER XVI.
TRANSACTIONS AND OCCURRENCES DURING THE FIRST RESIDENCE AT
LITAKUN.
J u l y 20th. While I was employed this morning in making a drawing
of the mootsi, or public enclosure, in which my waggons were
stationed, the Chief and his party remained sitting in their usual place
near the hut, passing their time in desultory conversation, and occasionally
in shaping handles for their com -hoes, a kind of mattock, used
by the women in digging or breaking up the land preparatively to
sowing, as that season was now advancing. These handles were
nearly in the form of the kirri, and about three feet long. The worlf
now bestowed upon them, and which was performed with a common
knife, was that of making them smooth and straight; but it proceeded
at an extremely slow rate, which plainly showed how little they
valued time, or how little work they had to do.
To make my sketch, I seated myself at the farthest part of the
enclosure; and during this time no one molested me with begging;
nor did any person come near me, excepting two or three children.
These were at first rather timid and shy; but I soon found means of
gaining their confidence. Their playmates, who were at a little
distance, observing that I had no dislike to their company,
added themselves to the party one by one, till at last I found
myself surrounded by a crowd of little urchins, all desirous that
I should take notice of them. The occasional society of such
companions may often afford the greatest relaxation, and the attractive
innocence and simplicity of youth contrasted with the
repulsive duplicity of a more advanced age, possess a charm which
may agreeably beguile an hour, and recreate a mind fatigued by
graver cares. I left off my drawing, that I might thus amuse myself
; and it was not long before their shyness was converted into
playful familiarity. They appeared delighted and happy that I
thought them of so much importance as to spend my time in talking
with them and in answering all their questions. One asked the name
of my book, and on being told it, others came eagerly forward to
know what I called the pencil, my boots, and the different parts of
my dress. They repeated the name, several times over, at first very
seriously; and on communicating it to the rest, laughed as if highly
pleased at having learnt something new, or, perhaps, at the strange
sound of the word itself.
I enjoyed this amusement alone, as none of the men had
curiosity enough, or thought it worth while, to take their seat by my
side, to’ see what I was doing; or probably Mattlvi had ordered that
I should not be interrupted while at work. But no sooner had I
finished it, and returned to my waggon, than the men began as usual
to torment me with begging for tobacco, or snuff. I found it impossible
to get rid of them without giving some; and I now saw the
necessity of reducing the quantity as low as possible; as my bestowing
too liberally to so great a multitude, would before long have put it
out of my power to give to any one. When one party, or as many
as could stand on the step of the waggon, had gained the object of
their visit, another immediately took their place. I hoped to avoid
their importunities, by leaving the waggon; as they supposed that I
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