172 
LIFE OF MUNAMEETS. 
afterwards to the source of the Krooman River, 
capturing almost the whole of their cattle, which 
were their chief means of support. The loss of 
these reduced them to the necessity of living 
upon roots and whatever game they could occa- 
sionally kill. During this famine his mother, 
Picquaney, died, when he was taken under the 
protection of Mallayabang, the King, and the 
father of Mateebe, who had him circumcised, 
paying for him the proportion of cattle expected 
from a captain on such an important occasion. 
Important in every acceptation of the term to 
the child, for so indispensible does it appear to 
character and respectability that the man on 
whom this ceremony has not been performed, must 
in their estimation be a fool, and incompetent to 
fill any eminent situation amongst them. 
The first warlike expedition in which he was 
engaged was a disastrous one. In consequence 
of the urgent solicitations of the Mashows, the 
Matchappees consented to join them in attacking 
a nation in their neighbourhood. They had 
agreed upon a particular place where the two 
armies were to meet, but owing to some mistake 
a junction was not effected. The Matchappees, 
unwilling to return home without achieving some- 
thing, resolved to attack the nation against 
which they had marched, without waiting for the 
Mashows. They were successful in the first 
