378 
DEBATING WITH MATTIVI. 
13 July, 
inducing them to relinquish their demand. They continued to talk 
on the subject, with the same confidence as though they had not 
heard what I had said ; and both Mattivi and Mollemmi were most 
importunate in urging their request. They declared that they in- 
tended to give me the value of it, and would to-morrow send to their 
cattle-stations for some fine oxen which they proposed offering to me, 
and were sure that I should not then, refuse to grant what they so 
much wished. I repeated over again all I had said, and ventured to 
assume a more positive tone. They continued, however, as much 
determined as before, not to desist from importuning ; if so mild a 
term can express their manner of asking. Mattivi said ; where was 
he to get a gun if I did not give them one ? To this I replied, that 
a gun would be of little use to people who could not themselves 
make gunpowder and ball : but the moment these words had passed 
my lips I felt that I had used but a weak argument ; as he quickly 
rejoined, that he expected that I should be friendly enough to supply 
him with those things also. 
I found myself now so closely pressed by these two, for Molali 
said but little, that I thought it not prudent to venture farther in 
the subject, without taking some time for deliberation. I therefore 
declared that as I had already said so much, I found myself unable 
to talk more at present, and begged them to wait till the morning. 
Still, however, they both urged their argument, with the same per- 
severance ; while I, remained obstinate in making the same replies : 
nor was it till past nine, and when tliey felt their legs becoming cold 
from sitting so long up in the waggon, that they left me and went 
to the fire in my men's house. 
Thither I was also compelled by cold to follow them ; for the 
whole day, and more especially the evening, had been rendered 
exceedingly chilly by a strong easterly wind. The chief with his 
two brothers, and Adam and Muchunka, went away together and 
without ceremony or distinction sat down by the side of my people, 
where they remained nearly an hour longer, warming themselves and 
smoking their pipes. 
Every hour at Litakun presented some new and interesting fact 
