280 EFFECTS OF RAIN ON THE NATIVES. [1820 
was wounded not far from the waggons, but got 
off. 
It was as dark, cold and gloomy as any winter 
night in Britain, and torrents of rain continued to 
fall till about nine p.m. when the clouds began to 
break and the stars to appear. Our Matchappees 
and Mashows, though they had plenty of flesh, 
were very dull, not a whisper was to be heard 
among them. No kind of weather is more de- 
pressing to this people than rain. The sight of 
them excited pity ; they reminded me of the ap- 
pearance of the poultry in England during rain. 
Pelangye having rather recommended our 
going to Makkabba, in consequence of his invita- 
tion, had been teazed by Munameets and others, 
as a friend of what they called the rogue Mak- 
kabba. Perceiving that his conduct affected his 
political character as a captain of the Matchap- 
pees, he had been trying to regain it ever since, 
by telling us, in the hearing of the others, that 
Makkabba was a great rogue, and every thing 
that was bad. I believe his only reason for wish- 
ing us to comply with Makkabba's invitation was 
his expectation that he would give us an ox to 
kill, and he should have a share of it. Though 
the journey should have cost m our lives, never- 
theless I believe he would have enjoyed the flesh, 
and not have regretted bringing us there, espe- 
