32Z T R A V E L S I N 
This was nothing more than a pretext. 1 
was in no want of milk, as my three cows fur* 
niflied more than was fufficient for my con- 
fumption. The day nearly ended, however, 
without my obtaining my purpofe. For fomq 
time, I thought my propofal would have no 
fuccefs : but, towards evening, all the women ar* 
rived with their bowls ; and my camp abounded 
with milk, for which I paid with great punftu- 
ality. They would gladly have received fome 
of my tobacco inftead of beads: but I flood 
firm; and my conftant refufal had fo good an 
effed, that one of them, who had probably 
more power over her hufband than the refl*, 
aflured me, that the next day fhe would bring 
me two very fine oxen. 
There was a ball, according to cuftom 5 and 
the dancing continued all night. The Nimi- 
qua girls are well made, hand fome, and very 
amorous. My men availed themfelves of the 
dance to procure tetes-a-tetes with them, and, 
not having oxen to purchafe like me, they 
proffered their allowances of tobacco, which 
were accepted for want of better. 
As 1 was chief of the caravan, a white, and 
poffefTor of tobacco of a much better quality, 
many ' 
