538 
BICHUANA POLICY.— VISIT TO THE BAROLONGS. 
respecting this principle in Bicliuana policy. When the chief-town 
of the Bachapins was situated on the Kruman river, four- mission- 
aries had taken up their abode there under the protection, or, to use 
a more correct term, sufferance, of Mulihaban, and having brought 
with them from the Colony a flock of about two hundred sheep, and 
a large quantity of beads, and judging it possible to barter at a more 
profitable rate than it was found practicable to do among that tribe, 
they planned a journey farther into the Interior, in consequence of 
the favorable reception which the first party just mentioned, had met 
with. Mulihaban, through fear of deterring other white-men from 
visiting him in future, did not chuse to prevent them by force ; but 
took steps to frustrate their plan, by representing to them, that cer- 
tain danger of their lives would be incurred if they persisted in going 
to the Barolongs, and by assuring them of his having heard that 
Makrakki would put to death every Colonist who came into his 
country. At the same time he sent private information to Makrakki, 
that a party of white-men was coming to murder him, and that he 
must without delay adopt measures for his safety. 
The consequence of this double-dealing was, that on their first 
arrival, Makrakki's manners towards them, wore a very suspicious 
appearance, until the parties came to an explanation and the truth 
was at last discovered ; Kok, fortunately, being able to speak the 
Sichuana language with tolerable fluency. A brisk barter then took 
place, and four waggon-loads of ivory were procured at the rate of 
a sheep for each tooth. Their beads obtained but the smaller part 
of this quantity, because the Barolongs were then more desirous of 
collecting a flock of sheep, than of purchasing beads ; for which 
latter they were not so eager, knowing that they could always, though 
at a higher rate, be had from the Bachapins, who on the other hand 
were not inclined to part with any of the few sheep which they then 
possessed. These were, indeed, procurable from several of the 
western tribes of the continent, the Karrikarries, the Namaquas, and 
the Dammaras ; but as they are a particular variety having long thin 
tails only, the Cape sheep were far preferred on account of their large 
tails of pure fat, a substance almost essential to the bodily comfort 
