1812. 
DEPARTURE FROM LITAKUN. 
509 
himself with his brothers and most of his chieftains, besides an in- 
numerable crowd. Not knowing whether so large a body of men 
was to be viewed as a friendly escort or as a preparative for some 
act of intimidation or treachery, I armed myself with a cutlass, and 
buckled on two braces of pistols, as though my usual travelling 
accoutrement. 
No other molestation, however, than begging, was offered to 
me ; but, under the impression that I Avas about to leave them 
finally, or, at least, that I should be absent a long time, their im- 
portunities were now more unrestrained than ever : some of them 
even demanded tobacco enough to last till my return ; and one man, 
who to gratify his own curiosity in so new a mode of conveyance, 
had been riding a short distance, claimed a piece in consideration of 
his having been bruised by the jolting of my waggon. Mattivi, for 
the same motive, jumped up behind the great waggon as it was 
moving on, but, unused to the rough motion of the vehicle, he was 
unable to keep his hold, and, on its passing over a rocky spot, was 
shaken off ; after which he made no further attempt at riding. 
In the confusion of the crowd, my thermometer narrowly escaped 
being lost : its usual place while travelling, was in one of the bags 
which were fastened within the tilt ; but by the violence of the jolts 
it was thrown out, and fell to the ground unperceived by us, when 
Kramori, who happened to be walking immediately behind, picked 
it up, and was in the act of secreting it under his kobo, when 
fortunately the red color of its leathern case caught my eye, and on 
my instantly demanding it from him, he found himself obliged, 
though with apparent reluctance, to deliver it up. 
The greater number of the men who were present at our depar- 
ture, believing that they should not see us again, had followed me, 
with the expectation of receiving some parting presents j but when 
I assured them, that I should most certainly take up my residence 
again at Litakun, the crowd, after accompanying us for about half a 
mile from the town, by degrees turned back again homewards. 
Mattivi, with his brothers and attendants, having continued with us 
for a short distance farther, took leave, and, turning their steps 
