umbrella gave us, that he wished me to make him a present of it. I
replied, that it was indispensably necessary to me, as I could not
draw without it, the whiteness of the paper, in the sunshine, completely
dazzling me and preventing my seeing either the objects
before me, or my own drawing; but I added, if he would wait till I
had ended my journey, I would then gladly give it to him. He did
not, he said, seriously mean, or expect, that I should part with it ;
but only asked it in talk ; yet, if he were to ask for a piece of tobacco
for himself and his wife, he then should mean what he said. That this
ingenious mode of begging might not fail in its object, I promised
that, as I had, to avoid being troubled by beggars, put none in my
pocket before I came from home, I would send him some as soon as
I returned to my waggons.
Marriklonami desired her husband to let me know that she
much wished to see my hair, and begged me to take off my hat. I
did so ; and had it been a man with eyes in every part of his head,
who had thus unexpectedly appeared before her, she could not have
expressed greater astonishment. She lifted up both hands with
amazement; involuntarily drew herself back a pace, as though fearful
of a strange animal; and remained for a minute or two fixed in
silent wonder. The greater part of the crowd also stood gazing with
surprise at the extraordinary sight, and seemed scarcely to credit the
testimony of their own senses, that there could exist on the earth a
race of men whose heads produced a similar covering: yet none
ventured now to approach and examine it more nearly. One man
said, he thought long hair very beautiful; but when I told him that
I much doubted whether he admired it so much as the hair of his
own countrywomen, he made no reply, and confessed by his silence,
that black wool twisted into threads shining with grease and sibilo,
was in his eyes much more charming.
Having allowed the party time sufficient for satisfying their
curiosity, I again put on my hat; and all then began giving to each
other their opinions respecting the white-man; at least, such appeared,
by their manner, to be the subject of their conversation.
Serrakutu, with a view to give me some idea, as it appeared, of
Bachapin ingenuity and workmanship, ordered two girls to bring me
his corn-sievex to look at. They were in the form of a large shallow
bowl, and made in a very neat manner, with flat split twigs interwoven
with the greatest exactness: but on pressing him to sell them,
I discovered that they were in reality the manufacture of the
Nuakketsi tribe, as he was unwilling to part with them, because, he
said, he should not for a long time have an opportunity of getting
others in their place; and it was an article with which he could not
dispense.
Both these dwellings were situated at the distance of only a few
paces from his mootsi; and his wives, of whom he had only two,
had proved themselves to be good builders, by their houses being of
the largest dimensions. That of the youngest may be seen on the
left in the foreground of the sixth plate. The same cleanness, good
order and neatness, which are the striking features of the houses of
Litakun, were equally conspicuous in these.
After having seen various other domestic articles, I returned home,
leaving them all exceedingly pleased at my visit, which, I doubt not,
furnished them with abundant matter for conversation during the
remainder of the day.
I had scarcely seated myself in my waggon, before Mollemmi
came to see me, for the purpose of being shown what I had drawn.
I made use of the opportunity for asking him to let me take his portrait
: but this he was unwilling to allow; nor would he give any
reason for his refusal.
The rest of the afternoon was employed in finishing my sketch;
though I was never without tobacco-beggars before me. I now, however,
succeeded better in resisting their importunities and gave away
less than on any previous day.
Speelman and Keyser, who had been out hunting since yesterday
morning, and had passed the night in the plains, returned this afternoon
; having shot a quakka (zebra). They were attended, during
the whole time, by three natives, who assisted in bringing home the
meat, and whose knowledge of Bachapin customs, was of great service
in finding cooking utensils ; wherever the chase led them, or when