1812. 
THE ART OF BEGGING. — SUNDAY. 
425 
As an experiment, I adopted his own style of solicitation, and 
complained that his servants had brought me no milk that day ; but 
he was not to be taken unawares, for his excuse lay ready-fabricated 
upon his tongue : he said, that this was the season when milk was 
scarce, and that he had really but few cows. My answer was not 
very ceremonious, but it was not against the rules of Bachapin 
politeness ; I replied, I could not believe that, while I knew him to 
be so rich that his cattle were grazing in every part of the country ; 
and therefore begged he would every day send me a large quantity. 
I was induced to make this demand, by having discovered that 
the art of begging follows one of the rules of an algebraic equation ; 
that, like-quantities on both sides, annul each other, and may be ex- 
punged, as not affecting the result. Whenever I began to beg of the 
Bachapins, their begging ceased immediately, and thus, neither 
party gained nor lost. 
Mollemmi also came, to inform me of his feats in hunting, and 
to tell me of his having shot a tsepi with the new gun. He said he 
felt very tired ; and on my giving him some tobacco, seemed glad to 
leave me and go home. Muchunka was teaching him a few Dutch 
words, to prepare him for his intended visit to Cape Town, the real 
object of which, it was at last discovered, was to procure guns from 
the governor ; having been told at Klaarwater, that he was the only 
person from whom they could be obtained. 
19/7?. This being Sunday ^ my flag was hoisted upon a tall 
bamboo-cane and fixed at the hinder part of my waggon, conformably 
to a regulation which we followed while beyond the boundary of the 
Cape colony. This practice was of considerable utility, in dividino- 
our time, and in assisting the Hottentots in keeping an account of 
the days of the week. By having this object before their eyes for 
twelve hours, a connection of ideas was established between the 
flag and every occurrence which took place on that day, as well as 
between that and the station at which it was hoisted. We were thus 
enabled more easily to recollect the place at which, or the day when, 
it was Sunday, and consequently to keep a check upon mistakes in 
our reckoning. 
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