400 
MATTIVrS REASONS FOR BARTERING. 14, 15 July, 
of the Dutch word, just as I had spoken it, and then explain what 
I meant to declare by it. It would not be an unreasonable sup- 
position, were it to be concluded from this circumstance that grati- 
tude is not of frequent occurrence among these nations ; they have, 
however, a mode of making known the satisfaction they feel at re- 
ceiving a gift, by telling the giver that he is mondati (good) or that 
2^elu I tnondatt (the heart is good). But it is doubtful whether the 
latter expression mean the heart of the giver or of the receiver j as 
either may be supposed with equal propriety. 
Mattivi said much more to me, expressive of his satisfaction 
and of his good-will towards me, but Muchijnka was too lazy, or 
too bungling, an interpreter to explain it. He mentioned, that if Gert, 
whom he looked upon as my upper-servant, should wish during my 
absence, to come back to Litakun to barter, he would always pro- 
tect him, and let him have fine oxen, if he would bring his beads to 
nobody but himself or Serrakutu, whom the chief called his great 
friend. 
This unexpected favor, though a mere promise, pleased the 
Hottentot so much, that he felt now warmed with gratitude, and 
thanked me for having brought him to a place where he met with 
so friendly a welcome ; for, as he had intended ultimately to make 
Klaarwater his place of residence and take a new wife from there, 
and had heard the Hottentots of that village talk of the profits they 
made by trading at Litakun, he now began to think of doing the same ; 
and his timidity actually left him for at least four-and-twenty hours. 
I was given to understand, that it was expected I should barter 
my beads at this place, and that if I did not, the Chief would think 
that I intended taking them to some other town ; an act which would 
be highly displeasing to him. I therefore desired the interpreter, 
and my own people, to impress the natives with the idea that I had 
but a small quantity of beads or tobacco in my waggon. 
I therefore determined on satisfying them to a certain degree, as 
far as this bartering could be rendered useful to me on the journey. In 
my original plan it was thought necessary, in such an expedition, to 
have a double team ; but by the purchase of a second waggon there 
