126 
TRAVELS IN 
being sent to them, immediately to return into their own 
country. Such a messenger is known hy this people from 
his laying his hassagai or spear on the ground at the distance 
of two hundred paces from those to whom he is sent, and by 
advancing from thence with extended arms. Being assured 
that every attempt to bring about an amicable adjustment 
between the king and the fugitive chiefs would be tried, and 
that from the apparent willingness, on their part, to a recon- 
ciliation, there could be little doubt of success, they re- 
ceived each a small present, consisting of tobacco, knives, 
flints, and steels, tinder-boxes, and a few glass beads. 
These are the sort of articles which the Dutch farmers have 
been in the habit of exchanging for their valuable breed of 
cattle. 
The three chiefs were all stout, well-formed men ; but 
"Etonie in particular might be accounted handsome : he had 
a lively pleasing countenance, that always wore a smile, his 
eyes were vivid and active, his teeth were white as ihe 
purest ivory, and his nose was not in the least flattened, 
but exactly of the same form as that of the ' European. 
In their dress they had nothing particular to distinguish 
them from those they commanded, except- a slender brass 
chain which hung suspended on the left side, from a wreath 
of small polished copper beads that encircled the upper part 
of the head. They wore long cloaks of calves' skins, which, 
being well stretched and dressed, were very light and pliant. 
Broad rings of ivory, cut out of the solid tusk of the elephant, 
were worn upon the left arm, above the elbow. Bracelets of 
copper and of iron surrounded their wrists, and rings of these 
