JUNE.] 
RESIDENCE AT LATTAKOO. 
251 
dung to their mother, when we seemed at any time to 
approach them. We likewise visited the queen, who 
had also a family of line children, who w^ere sitting 
round a fire in the corner of the yard. 
While writing in the tent, some of the principal peo- 
ple came in and seated themselves around me; but in 
consequence of their talking so much, and so loud, 
about my writing, dress, and so forth, I was obliged 
to desist. To make something of time I took down 
their names, which were Lahalla, Humay, Jabaleech, 
Shoomuliky, Muteer, Shoomiliky, Pallamma, Mura- 
koomaille, Mootabuche, Mo u qua, Mohalaily, Chink- 
anny, and Sheecolee. I then took down the names 
they gave to the different parts of the human body, 
and their numbers up to twenty, all which afforded 
them much entertainment. After recording a few 
words, I generally read them over to them, to find 
whether I had taken them down correctly and pro- 
nounced them properly, as well as to assist them in 
forming some idea of writing. At my manner of pro- 
nouncing some of their words, they laughed so im- 
moderately loud, as almost to make me deaf. When I 
could not catch the sound of some of them, so as to be 
able to put them down, perhaps five or six would pro- 
nounce them at one time, which only increased my 
difficulty. I then waited for silence, and held my ear 
to the most sensible looking countenance, and obtained 
it in this way. They were much entertained by the 
red covering of my journal, which each of them cau- 
tiously touched with his fore finger. 
K k 2 
