68 
FIRST RESIDENCE 
[1820; 
lently, he remarked that he was very glad ta; 
see me again. 
Sehoiya, the little lively girl, whom I have' 
noticed in my former journal, called at Mr. 
Hamilton's. She appeared about fifteen years 
of age, uncommonly sedate, and small in stature- 
After sunset, Mateebe, his three sons and a 
nephew paid me a private visit, no doubt in 
expectation of receiving the customary present 
of tobacco, that, in the dark, he might convey 
it home unnoticed, knowing that otherwise much 
would be begged from him on the way. One 
of his sons brought a large wooden vessel full 
of a mixture of flour and milk, resembling thick, 
gruel, which they substitute for bread. Mrs. 
Hamilton carried it to her Matchappee servants. 
The eldest son is a good-looking young man of 
sixteen years of age, having a mild yet manly 
countenance. When I asked if he would accom- 
pany me to the far land, from whence I had 
come, he smiled and laconically answered No. 
On putting the same question to the king's 
nephew, a lad about thirteen, he pointed with his 
finger to the ground, and said he liked better to 
remain here. Mateebe seemed highly diverted 
and pleased to observe them preferring home 
to an unknown land. After sitting about an hour, 
they took leave 
