154 TRAVELS IN 
them fome dainty, I depofited, near the reeds> 
a fmall quantity of tobacco and fome glafs 
beads, and then returned to my former ftation. 
While I was thus employed, they had re- 
moved to a greater diftance ; but, when I re- 
tired, they again drew near, and at length came 
to the huts, and took up the prefent I had left 
there. 
The attention with which they examined 
it, and the pleafure it feemed to afford them, 
led me to believe that, after thefe preliminaries 
of friendfhip, I might venture to accoft them. 
I advanced therefore once more, followed by 
my company ; but they retired in the fame 
manner as before. 
They removed, indeed, to a greater diftance 
than at firft; but I remarked that they feemed 
to be deliberating together, and I flattered 
myfelf that they would not delay to enter 
into a conference with me. I thought proper, 
therefore, to make another attempt ; . and tak- 
ing a nevvT prefent of tobacco and beads, I held 
it up to them, that they might fee it, and ad- 
vanced towards them alone. 
This mode of negotiation fucceeded. One 
,of the men left his companions, and, approach^ 
ing 
