390 
INQUISITIVENESS. 
14 July, 
customs to have been enabled with advantage to enter the next nation 
beyond. And besides this, I feared that he might give vent to his 
displeasure, by sending forward into those countries, some reports 
which might occasion to me an unfriendly reception. 
I therefore told him that on one condition only, would I consent 
to let him have a musket ; which was, that I should retain it till my 
return to Karrikamma, and that he might then send some trusty 
person thither to receive it ; but that I would on no consideration 
give up any of my arms until I had arrived at that place. 
I conceived that by this agreement I was dealing with him in his 
own way, by outwitting him ; as it was of course not my intention 
to return to that village, but to proceed onwards farther into the 
Interior. 
He appeared very satisfied with my answer and pleased at the 
success of his negotiation ; and replied that he would send his 
brothers Mollemmi and Molaali to receive the gun. I then remarked 
that as I had done more for him than any other white-man who had 
visited his country, he ought to regard me as having proved my 
friendship for him by the strongest possible testimony. 
Here the debate terminated, and thus was the affair concluded 
to the satisfaction of both parties. On this, they left the waggon and 
took their place in the circle of attendant chieftains, to communicate 
to them the result of our conversation. 
When they left the waggon, others came and took their place, 
seating themselves by me in the manner in which they were 
accustomed to do, by their chief, and indulging their inquisitiveness in 
examining with their eyes every thing within my sitting-place. 
Every person in the enclosure seemed to have little or nothing to do ; 
all sat or walked about as if their time was useless : but, for this ap- 
parent want of occupation, the presence of a white-man with his two 
wao-gons loaded with goods of the most extraordinary kind, was a full 
excuse ; and it might be admitted, that in observing my person and 
in satisfying their curiosity on so great a variety of novel objects, 
their minds, at least, were actively employed. With this view 
