416 
ALARMING ASPECT OF AFFAIRS. 
17 July, 
stranger who came in friendship to visit them ; and, without waiting 
till the interpreter had finished his duty, I rose from the circle and 
retired to my waggon, declaring, that as they had taken the gun from 
me against my consent, they might now keep it as their own ; but 
that, for myself, I should instantly quit their country. These words, 
which were understood by Champani, and perhaps by several others 
who were present, were immediately communicated to them, and to 
all who were then in the enclosure, the number of which was about 
a hundred. 
The whole mootsi was now a scene of debate ; and every coun- 
tenance became serious. The assembly broke up ; and Mattivi seated 
himself with a small party in one corner of the enclosure. My own 
men, fearing the worst consequences, came round me, and earnestly 
entreated me rather to allow the affair to take any course which the 
natives might desire, than to irritate a people, who had it in their 
power to put us all to death before the morning. My interpreter 
anxiously begged me to desist from further contention, as he knew 
not what might be the result. Speelman, in the greatest trepidation, 
declared, that could he have foreseen that I should ever have brought 
my people into so dangerous a situation, he would never have 
engaged himself for the journey. 
Mattivi's brothers and sons, with several others, continued 
passing to and fro before the waggon, anxiously looking in as they 
walked by, to discover what were my movements or what steps I 
appeared about to take ; as, it seems, they were apprehensive that I 
should give orders for leaving the town immediately. Had 1 done 
this, they would have been in a state of great hesitation, respecting 
the measures they were to adopt ; whether to detain me, which act 
they feared would put an end to all future confidence between 
them and the Colony ; or whether to allow me to depart, by which 
they would have lost all further advantages from my visit. As they 
passed, I could read disappointment and uncertainty in their coun- 
tenances : but this, my men construed in a very different manner. 
Gert, Speelman, and Muchunka were, in the greatest agitation, 
giving me their advice, when Mollemmi, having Champani with bim, 
