RELUCTANCE TO VISIT DOWDEE. l 24>9 



as last night On our arrival at Moggor, they ex- 

 plained to their wives what we wanted them to do, 

 but the old ladies were evidently strongly opposed 

 to any such measures. I essayed all my eloquence, 

 setting forth the short time their hushands would be 

 away and the care we would take of them, and then 

 enumerated all the wealth for which I could recollect 

 Erroobian designations. Sapara, ow sapara, nipa, 

 tarpoor, sucoob, wallee,* repeating each word several 

 times to designate the quantity we would give them. 

 I at last assured them that if Seewai did not go 1 

 should apply to Marnmoos, and that he would go, 

 and then become the possessor of all these riches. 

 This last argument had an evident effect, and slack- 

 ened the old ladies' opposition a good deal. Both ■ 

 Seewai and Keouck then said they would go, and 

 set off to wade to the boat, with several men and 

 children bringing- cocoa-nuts and yams. Before we 

 reached the boat, however, Keouck stole away, and 

 on getting to it Seewai's little boy began to cry, and 

 cling to him, and pull him away j and I could see 

 his heart failed him very fast. His wife then began 

 to shout very energetically to him from the shore. 

 He pointed to her and then to his child, saying, 

 " Coskeer ee-ee, piccaninny ee-ee ! Seewai lola Dow- 

 dee.*' I endeavoured to laugh him out of his 

 reluctance, and urged him to get into the boat, but 



* These words mean, axe, big axe, knife, glass bottk, tobacco, 

 cloth or clothes ; the latter being gaudy cotton pocket-baudker- 

 cliiefs, 



