272 
RESIDENCE AT LATTAKOO. 
[1813. 
period, and on laying it aside, they walked away 
greatly entertained. Thermometer at noon, 70. 
The dancing continued to day as usual. In the 
morning we had proposed to Mateere, the Governor 
of the town in absence of Munaneets, to visit a large 
village about a day and a half's journey higher up the 
country, to occupy our time till Mateebe's return, and 
he engaged to accompany us. In the evening he came 
into our tent, and sat silent for some time ; he then 
went out, and brought with him the interpreter ; 
of course we perceived he had something to com- 
municate. When seated, Mahootoo, the queen, en- 
tered, and Seetezoo, the king s sister, who can speak 
the Coranna language; she told Adam Kok, that 
the queen was averse to our going any where till 
Mateebe came. After some conversation, she pro- 
posed, that if we went, we should leave part of 
our waggons behind. We told her we never should 
have thought of leaving Lattakoo even for a day before 
Mateebe's return, had we been permitted to instruct 
the people ; but that having nothing to do, we wished 
to visit that village, and likewise to hunt, as our stock 
was getting low. She said, that owing to the bad 
harvest they had had, they could not supply us as 
they wished. We then asked, why she wished part 
of our waggons to remain behind us. She said, be- 
cause she desired to have company, which undoubtedly 
was not the real reason. I suppose they were afraid 
lest Mateebe should come before we returned, and 
would be disappointed and displeased to find no 
