1812. 
COVETOUSNESS. 
395 
enough for the interpreter to understand, that, as soon as all these 
things could be laid out ready for inspection, I should close up the 
waggon, and privately give him and Mattlvi notice, that they might 
come and see them before any one else should be admitted. It 
should here be remarked that this nation had never hitherto, except- 
ing one or two instances, been visited by a white-person, or by the 
Hottentots, but for the purpose of bartering for cattle or ivory : and 
this they supposed to be one of the objects of my visit to Litakun. 
Mattwi, who always assumed a more friendly and familiar tone 
when seated in my waggon, than when surrounded by his people, 
said that we, meaning himself and me, must not, while sitting in 
public, talk on business of this kind, but must keep it all to ourselves ; 
and at the same time he gave me to understand, that it was the 
custom in these countries to let the Chief have the first sio-lit of all 
o 
beads which were brought for barter, that he might have the option 
of being the purchaser of them. 
It is evident that their whole conduct and conversation were 
directed by the most selfish motives and gave the strongest proof of 
a total absence of the nobler sentiments of the mind ; while they 
presented a picture of the most debasing covetousness and meanness, 
the contemplation of which distressed me the more, as it disappointed 
my expectations, or at least, my hopes. The feelings which had 
induced the Chief to desire that the presents should not be made to 
him in public, were of a nature so petty and unworthy, that one is 
inclined to think that even a savage would be ashamed to own them : 
he told me, that if his friends and attendants were to see how much 
he received, they would not cease begging from him, as long as they 
knew that he had any thing left. This confession and explanation 
portray one characteristic feature of this tribe : — they are all beggars 
of the meanest kind. Though, I am willing to admit in their favor, 
that I am judging rather severely, because I allow my judgement to 
be guided by the feelings of a European ; while those of an African, 
would acquit them, perhaps entirely, and plead in extenuation, that 
the extraordinary rarity and value of the objects in question were a 
temptation which might naturally excite in the mind of a poor 
3 E 2 
