1812. 
TEACHERS OF SICHUANA. 
407 
not to mention that it had been given to them. The former, seeing 
some loose beads lying on the canvass, greedily scraped them up and 
gave them to one of his sons. 
This market lasted about an hour and a half, and though I of- 
fered at least twice as much beads for an ox, as were usually obtained 
from the Hottentots, yet not more than two oxen were actually 
purchased. This apparent disinclination to barter, did not arise 
from any deficiency of oxen among them, or from any want of 
desire to possess my beads ; but, as I afterwards had reason for 
suspecting, from a hope of thus compelling me to part with fire-arms 
and ammunition, in return for oxen which they knew to be essen- 
tially necessary to my progress. 
The remaining goods were then put again into the chest, and 
I retired to my waggon, where I was soon afterwards visited by the 
Chief. He brought with him a calabash of milk, intended, as I 
supposed, for a peace-offering, as he gave it me without demanding 
any thing in payment. I offered him, however, the usual piece of 
tobacco ; which he very readily accepted. He, on his part, had 
no cause for being out of temper ; but as he knew that I had, he 
seemed desirous of testifying his good-will towards me ; and sat in 
the waggon above an hour, which he spent chiefly in teaching me 
Sichuana. 
We were joined by other chieftains, who also took amusement 
in giving me lessons in their language. These people were always 
found to be very ready to render me service of this kind, and much 
pleased when they had taught me any new word or expression ; but 
they never forgot at the end of it, to request a piece of tobacco. 
In begging for any trifling gift or remuneration, they never asked for 
sikhdka (beads) ; these being considered more especially as money, 
to be employed only as the medium of trade with distant tribes, and 
for the purchase of the more expensive articles ; while muchuko 
and lisliuena (tobacco and snuff) being consumable merchandise, are, 
though highly valued, regarded as a less important species of property. 
I had sufficient reason for admiring one of the customs of the 
Bachapins ; that, notwithstanding they never at anv other time left 
