so 



AN ANGRY WOMAN. 229 



I took a firm stand, and told her ladyship that, 

 sooner than concede to her demands, we would do 

 without milk. So off she flounced to the village, 

 with all her retinue in attendance, vowing at the top 

 of their voices, and gesticulating with all the energy 

 that their arms could command, that never since they 

 could remember had they seen such a skinflint white 

 man as myself. As we intended remaining here 

 some days, it would never have done to have sub- 

 mitted to be imposed upon in regard to the milk, for 

 everything else that we required from the natives 

 would have at once gone up in proportion. How- 

 ever, madame knew how to be revenged upon us, 

 and in a manner we least expected it, viz. by taboo- 

 ing the white men, and forbidding any of her people 

 to show us game or even inform us where it was to 

 be found. 



Cigar had a very oily tongue, and could lie like 

 a pickpocket when occasion required, so I gave him 

 diplomatic powers to try and bring the quarrel to a 

 termination ; but, although he went backwards and 

 forwards between the waggons and village all the 

 morning, at midday he was as far off from coming 

 to terms as he had been when he undertook his 

 mission. Thus, after tiffin, I resolved to fire a part- 

 ing shot at the foe, which I fondly hoped was certain 

 to make her haul down her colours, viz. send her a 

 copy of her husband's letter, given me on my road 

 up country, enjoining her to treat me with unbounded 



Q 3 



