1812. 
CONCILIATORY EXPLANATIONS. 
417 
came and seated himself on the after-chest of the waggon. He 
seemed dejected, and said nothing. I repeated, that he must be aware 
that taking advantage of a stranger who visited them as a friend, was 
not the way in which I ought to be received ; and that they had not 
rested from their endeavours, till they had taken from me that which 
they knew I did not wish to give up. At last he replied, that 
Mattlvi and all the people were much distressed at hearing that I 
thought they meant to take the gun from me in any unfriendly 
manner. They were yesterday rejoiced at finding that they had at 
length gotten into their possession, that which they had so much 
wished for ; but now they were sad, because they saw me displeased. 
He had long meditated on accompanying me back to Cape Town ; 
but now he felt great disappointment, as he feared that I should 
give our Chief an unfavorable opinion of his nation ; which would 
prevent his intended journey. 
So submissive and unexpected a confession, I looked upon as the 
termination of our dispute, since my only object in acting as I had 
done, was, not to recover my gun, nor to obtain a greater number of 
oxen, but to give a check to a growing spirit of intimidation and 
imposition, which I feared would, if not timely prevented, occasion 
us serious difficulties. 
I replied ; unless men acted according to their promise and 
agreement, it would be impossible for me ever to rely on their word ; 
that as I came to Litakun as a friend, I wished, and hoped, to leave 
it as one ; that I desired nothing more earnestly than to be on good 
terms with every body, and that I should be sorry if Mattivi did not 
feel equally friendly towards me : and to convince him that I still was 
desirous of his friendship, and ready to gratify his wishes as far as it 
was in my power, I would make him a present of as much powder 
and ball as I could safely spare ; and that, with respect to the subject 
in dispute, I should leave him to his own conscience to do whatever 
he thought just and right, and should urge that affair no farther ; for, 
if the Bachapins really cared for the good opinion of the white-people, 
I was certain that they would in every respect act fairly in their 
dealings with me. 
VOL. II. 3 H 
