NEGOCIATIONS. ' 405 



upon me, or to show that better part of valour — ■ 

 discretion — and slope off into the bush. Calling 

 Ponto to my side, I walked deliberately towards 

 them, and, sitting down with my back against one 

 of their huts, made signs for them to join me. 

 Although somewhat re-assured of my pacific inten- 

 tions by this proceeding, they were still in a terrible 

 state of fear, and looked first at me, and then at 

 Ponto, as if we were two terrible apparitions. 



I did all T could to allay their fears, by ordering 

 the dog to lie down near me, and making signs 

 for them to do the same ; but all. to no purpose. I 

 then struck a match and lighted a cigar ; but the 

 mode in which I produced fire evidently increased 

 their consternation, as I must have appeared en- 

 dowed with supernatural powers, for they gazed 

 at me, open-mouthed, as if wondering what would 

 come next. 



At length, recognising one of the girls who gave 

 the first alarm, I imitated her scream of terror, and, 

 laughing at her, made signs for her to come to me ; 

 but my overtures were received with a cry of fear, 

 and she was running away, when two men, evi* 



