408 
ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN ANOTHER GUN. 
16 July, 
me alone, they always retired the moment my dinner or breakfast 
was brought to me. This gave me a few moments' relief from the 
fatigue of incessant conversation ; for, when one person was satisfied 
with seeing and hearing me, another came and took his place : and 
this routine, with scarcely any intervals, continued from the time I 
rose in the morning, till the hour at night when they retired to sleep* 
In the evening Mollemmi wished me to see some oxen which 
he had brought for the purchase of another gun. I was now forced 
to declare most positively, that I would not give up any more arms ; 
and refused even to look at the oxen, though he entreated me in a 
submissive and friendly tone, to see what fine cattle he had selected 
for me. As I had experienced the unpleasant consequences of entering 
into any conversation on the subject, I resolved to make a trial of the 
efficacy of silence. After having once pronounced the refusal, I gave 
no further opinion ; I made not the least reply to his remarks. In this 
mode of treating the business, I persisted, with an unshaken ob- 
stinacy, in spite of the most teasing solicitation ; and was extremely 
happy to perceive that it produced the desired effect. 
The chieftains who were now assembled as before, said nothing 
on this occasion ; and both Mattivi and Mollemmi at length appeared 
to relinquish the dem'and. They even confessed that they were so 
much pleased at having obtained one, that they would not again make 
mention of another, as they saw that more could not be spared. 
Mattwi now repeated, that other white-men had promised his father a 
gun, but that, as I was the only person who had let them have one, 
he by this could perceive that I was a very great chief j and there- 
fore, that he would in future trade with no one but me and my 
people ; that he would sell the ivory to nobody else ; but would save 
it all for me, when I came again. There then followed much more 
nonsense of this kind ; and after I had heard enough to convince me 
that it had no meaning, I rose and left the circle. 
But the piicho or assembly remained sitting in easy conversation 
for nearly an hour longer. At these assemblies or councils, Mattivi, 
Serrakutu, and Mollemmi, took their turns in presiding ; or rather 
in conducting, and more especially attending to, the debate : for the 
