1812. 
MANIFESTATION OF GOODWILL. 
367 
rest of the assembly and the crowd, in silence rivetted their eyes 
upon me, with looks of uncommon interest and surprise ; as a 
great number of them, there is no doubt, had never before beheld 
a white man. 
As I conceived it would not have been decorous to have re- 
turned any part of this present, I gave the remainder to Juli that he 
might set it in the waggon ; for on looking round at the crowd I at 
that moment discovered him close to me. My own men had been 
completely excluded from me, but he, not yet knowing whether my 
reception was friendly or not and becoming anxious for the result, 
had thus forced his way to his master's side. 
After this we continued sitting ; but no further conversation 
took place between us. At length Serrakutu asked me to give him 
some tobacco ; but, though I had put some in my pocket for occa- 
sional distribution, I declined giving him any at this time, as I feared 
that some confusion might arise, should all the others make the 
same request, and as I knew that the quantity I had about me would 
not suffice for the whole assembly if I began to give a piece to each. 
I answered him, that until the Chief had received that which was 
intended for him, it would not be correct to make a present to any 
one else ; and he expressed himself satisfied with my excuse. 
That we might not sit silent and unemployed, I opened my 
snuff-box, and held it towards Mattivi, who took two thirds of its 
contents, and returned it to me : but, as I was sure that he would 
be better pleased with three thirds, I put the box again into his hand, 
and found that I had not mistaken his feelings. He emptied the 
whole into the hollow of his hand and drawing from its sheath, the 
knife which hung from his neck, he, with the point of it, distributed 
a small quantity to each of his family and to all the chieftains who 
sat in the inner circle, reserving for himself no larger share than he 
had given to any of the rest ; a display of generosity to which he 
was induced by the presence of the assembly. On this, a general 
snuff-taking ensued, in the manner already described ; but the quan- 
tity which each received, was not sufficient to produce that strono> 
effect, nor even an inclination to sneeze. 
On asking Muchunka privately if this would not be a proper 
