130 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XVI 



Arrowsmith's map of Africa having been pro- 

 duced, we placed a finger upon Graaff Reinet, 

 Kuruman, and Mosega, explaining to the king how 

 many days journey would be saved, if we were to 

 return to the Colony by the Vaal River. He shook 

 his head as before, and petulantly observed, that 

 he had already said there was no road through that 

 country. We laughed, and expressed a wish to 

 look for one ; but he rejoined, that his anxiety for 

 our safety would not allow him to hear of our tra- 

 velhng in that direction, — that should any accident 

 befal us, the white king would undoubtedly attribute 

 blame to him, and he therefore must insist upon 

 our giving up the intention. Through this flimsy 

 veil, however, we could distinguish motives that 

 were in no way connected with our safety. The 

 chieftain was naturally desirous of concealing, as 

 far as possible, the havoc that his people had made 

 amongst the emigrant farmers; and he was above 

 all things anxious to obtain further presents on our 

 return from the interior. We saw the necessity of 

 waiving the subject for the present, but secretly 

 determined to attack him anon with his own weapons. 



He soon became extremely eager to have a sight 

 of our various wares, but we steadily resisted his 

 teasing importunities to examine the contents of the 

 boxes. Knowing that all savages possess the sor- 

 did passion of avarice in an extraordinary degree, 

 and have the insatiate desire of accumulating pro- 

 perty for the mere pleasure of possessing it, we iiad 

 omitted no precaution to keep his Majesty in pro- 



