1812. 
MOLAALI'S DUTY IN THE GOVERNMENT. 
431 
down some Sichuana words, he asked if I did it that I might learn 
them when I returned to my own country : and on being told that it 
was done that others might learn them also and come to Litakun to 
see him, he was much pleased. I could perceive that a week's 
acquaintance had worn off much of his reserve : he appeared some- 
times in a more friendly light, and sufficiently familiar ; but he had 
not yet won my confidence and esteem. On taking leave of me at 
night, his usual word was, Rumeela; a polite and friendly term of 
greeting, often used also at meeting, in answer to the word Ees. 
Mollemmi paid me a short visit in the evening, when I gave him 
some tobacco for Molaali whom I had not seen since the morning 
before. On asking why he had not been to visit me, he said that it 
was because he had had much business to attend to. 
At this time, Molaali s duty in the Bachapin government, was to 
convey the Chief's orders wherever the case demanded, and to see them 
put in execution : he also was employed on those commissions for 
which the presence of a person of authority, was required in any distant 
part of the country within Mattivi's jurisdiction. It was he who was 
generally sent to inquire into crimes and misdemeanors, and bring 
the offender, if not too powerful, to town. A short time before my 
arrival he had been thus employed, in taking into custody a man who 
had stolen and killed one of the Chief's oxen, and who was after- 
wards punished with death. Such an offence may be commuted for 
a fine of three or four times the value, if the means of paying it can 
be found ; or it is visited by seizure, when the offender is of the 
higher class. During my stay at Litakun all business with the 
different cattle-stations appeared to be transacted by Molaali ; who 
was considered as the official messenger on all occasions of importance. 
Molaali^ as soon as he was told by his brother that I had been 
making inquiries after him, paid me a visit; and seemed much 
pleased at my having noticed his absence. He sat with me about a 
quarter of an hour, and was entertained with a cup of tea. His be- 
haviour was at all times modest and unpretending ; he was far less 
troublesome to me, than his elder brothers were ; but assumed some- 
what more liberty than his brother Mahura, whom I saw less fre- 
