362 
MATTIVrS PERSON AND DRESS : 
13 July, 
been left to my own decision, I should not have hesitated in ad- 
dressing him as the Chief. 
Mattivi in outward appearance differed in no respect from those 
of the crowd by whom he was surrounded. Compared with the rest 
of his nation, he was in stature of an intermediate proportion, and 
of a good figure ; neither tall nor short, neither thin nor corpulent. 
In his countenance there was little expression of openness, or of 
that good-natured easy disposition which might be seen in the 
features of several who stood near him. He wore an ordinary 
leathern kobo or cloak, and was ornamented round the neck with a 
thick necklace of twisted sinews, one string of large beads alternately 
white and purple, and several small cords from which, conformably 
to general custom, a common knife of Bichuana manufacture * was 
suspended. He was barefooted, and wore nothing on the head ; 
but his hair was plastered with a thick covering of grease mixed with 
sibTlo which caused it to shine with perfect metallic lustre. On his 
left arm, above the elbow, were five broad rings of ivory. ■\ His age 
appeared to be above forty ; but it is possible that it might not have 
been quite so much ; as his grave and sedate deportment on the one 
hand, and his uncle's talkativeness on the other, seemed to bring 
their ages nearer together than, it may be supposed, they really were.. 
A thicker beard than commonly seen among his countrymen, who 
often have none at all, assisted much in producing these impressions. 
He stood perfectly still, with his hands before him folded in 
each other, and with his eyes directed rather downwards, but now 
and then looking up and showing that he was attending to all that 
was said. He spoke very little or almost nothing ; and left the con- 
versation to Serrakutu and his brothers. These were pointed out to 
me ; for to say, introduced, would create an idea of some form or 
ceremony, and give a very erroneous impression of the whole affair. 
The brothers who were present on this occasion, were Mollemmi, 
Molaali, and Mahura. Mollemm% whose name has already been 
* Such as may be seen represented by the upper figure of the 39th vignette, 
f See the 38tii vignette. 
