1812. 
AND ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT. 
377 
So unexpected a demand, and of such a nature, for it had more 
the character of a demand than of a request, and made on the very 
moment of my arrival, was a circumstance exceedingly unpleasant, 
as the earnestness with which it was made, convinced me at once of 
the difficulty of the situation in which it placed me. I had no more 
than just muskets enough to arm all my men, and three even of 
these belonged to the Hottentots themselves, who had preferred 
bringing their own guns as being more accustomed to them. It was 
putting into the hands of this people a weapon which in the event 
of any future misunderstanding would be used against ourselves; so 
that we might lose our lives by the very instrument which we had 
brought for the purpose of defending them : besides which, ammu- 
nition would also be required. If I refused giving it, I must run 
the risk of its being taken either by force or by stealth. I had but an 
instant for reflection ; my answer must follow the question. I re- 
solved not to grant his request ; although I foresaw that my refusal 
would produce some unpleasant consequences. 
I therefore replied, that I had no more than one for each of my 
men, and that if I were to give up any, some of my own people 
must go unarmed, which, as he well knew, was a thing not to be 
ventured in travelling through a country inhabited by Baroba (Bush- 
men) ; that as we were but very few in number, we had the greater 
necessity for retaining our arms for our own defence ; that they were 
not all my own, and must be taken back to the colony again ; that 
besides this, he saw that we had no food but what was procured by 
hunting, and must be well aware that we had in these countries, no 
other means of support, consequently that our lives depended on 
our guns, which was not the case with them, as they had abundance 
of corn, milk, and cattle. And I concluded by assuring him, that I 
felt the most friendly sentiments towards him and all his people, 
otherwise I should not have come to see him ; that if I had more 
muskets than were wanted, I would willingly let him have one, but 
that it was impossible to think of disarming my own men. 
All these arguments, which they must have had discernment 
enough to think perfectly reasonable, appeared to have no effect in 
VOL. ir. 3 c 
