374 
SERRAKUTU. — MATTIVI AND HIS ATTENDANTS. 13 July, 
was brought to me by a chieftain's servant ; and soon afterwards 
Serrakutu came to inform me that it was he who had sent it ; and at 
the same time begged me to give him some tobacco. Not wish- 
ing to be troubled by similar importunities from others, I put a 
piece secretly into his hand, requesting that he would not let any 
one know that he had received it from me. This caution was quite 
unnecessary, as he valued it himself too much to give any away to 
others ; which he could not have avoided doing, had it been known ; 
as his friends would, in that case, have beset him on all sides. He 
instantly concealed it under his cloak and hasted away home to 
deposit it in a place of safety. 
When Mattivi left the waggon, he took his seat on the ground at 
the distance of a few yards, where his attendants and brothers sat in 
a small party, engaged either in desultory conversation with each 
other, or in observing our movements. At some times they ap- 
peared not to heed our presence ; at others, to watch every thing 
with apparent curiosity and interest. The spot where he had seated 
himself, and which he used as long as I remained at Litakun, was 
directly facing the open end, or back, of my own waggon ; so that 
he had a constant and full view of me, whenever the canvas flap 
was tied open ; which it usually was, during the first fortnight of my 
residence at this town. 
Numbers of the inhabitants were standing about unemployed, 
except in looking at the waggons and observing all which we did ; 
but, awed or restrained by their Chief, they did not interrupt me, 
or venture to importune for any thing ; a sufficient proof that he 
had issued strict orders to forbid begging at that time. These, and 
my own declaration that nothing would be given away till Mattivi had 
received what was intended for him, were the only cause of my re- 
maining all day unmolested in this respect. 
Among my stores, I had coffee still remaining ; and as soon as 
some was prepared, I sent a large cupful to the Chief, who drank it 
immediately it was presented to him, and expressed his approbation 
by the words, It is good. He admired the vessel which held it, and 
inquired if it was made of ivory. This remark was not injudicious, 
