GEGARA. 67 



I always deem it the most admirable plan among 

 savages who don't know the difference between right 

 and wrong, to allow them to arrange their own quar- 

 rels, especially when in connexion with their women, 

 and to forbear from all interference in matters of the 

 kind myself, I declined to go into the case, and am 

 not in a position to state the facts of which it was 

 composed. However, it would be of little interest 

 and no importance to any of my readers. 



In the afternoon old Gegara came to visit us, with 

 a strong escort, bringing a goat as a present. He told 

 so many lies about the Mavite during his stay in 

 camp, that we scarcely knew what to believe about 

 them. 



Gegara was an old man, of most licentious and truly 

 savage appearance and manner. It was highly 

 amusing to see him with Mr. Young's looking-glass 

 (the only one we could muster among us), looking 

 at himself and stroking his beard and moustache for 

 nearly half an hour without ceasing. Then he would 

 talk awhile ; after which he invariably returned to the 

 glass. He asked for grog, and was given some ; then 

 he wanted more, but this was refused. He said ^' he 

 would take the glass ;" this he was also informed could 

 not be spared. However, he got a fair present of 

 cloth and beads before he left. 



During conversation he told us that there was an 

 Englishman living higher up the river at a place called 

 Mapoonda; that he had been there for some time ; that 

 he never took slaves, but released them; and that 

 whenever the Arabs or Portuguese slavers saw him 

 they ran awav. This was curious. Could it be 



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