May.] 
EMPLOYMENT OF THE WOMEN. 
255 
to be a kind of bravado, that the other nations 
hearing of it might be afraid of them. 
I lost my way in the town during the day for 
about half an hour, the lanes were so crooked 
that they reminded me of the labyrinth at Hamp- 
ton-court Palace. 
Munameets had received a present of an ox 
from the Regent, for himself and his servants, 
(about five or six in number.) Though this was 
only the third day since the ox had been given, 
he complained that he had nothing to eat. It is 
almost incredible how great a quantity of food 
these people can devour. 
The Regent had at length summoned, for the 
following day, a peetso, or general meeting of 
the captains, to hear our news. In this respect 
they have some resemblance to the ancient Athe- 
nians, for they are always taken up inquiring after 
new things. Few women visited the waggons 
during the day, either because the men were 
absent on the pretended hunt, or being a fine day 
were digging in the fields ; indeed our men as 
they marched along saw great numbers of the 
natives thus occupied. The Regent returned 
painted all over with pipe-clay, which gave him 
an odd appearance. This attention to show 
