THIRD JOURNEY. 
91 
own, which was much lig^hter. He foon offered me a herd of ^^779- 
, ^ . February. 
fat bullocks in return ; but I refufed to take them, which >■ — -J 
feemed to affront him greatly, and he often repeated, " What 
do you think of our country." After a few words between us, 
I accepted of one, which we immediately fliot ; this furprifed 
all the fpe8:ators, who were about fix hundred perfons, few of 
them having ever feen a gun, or heard the report of one. We 
had a part of the bullock dreffed, which I thought much fu- 
perior to the beef near the Cape. The reft of the animal I 
diftributed to the king and his fervants. He ftill feemed dif- 
pleafed that I would accept of nothing more in return. I then 
alked him for fome of their balkets, which he gave me, and 
alfo two of their lances or Haffagais, which they make with 
great ingenuity ; but the conftrudion of the bafkets, which are 
made by their women, is much more furprihng ; they are com- 
pofed of grafs, and woven fo clofely that they are capable of 
holding any fluid. Khouta, the chief, intreated me to remain 
w^ith him a few days ; this, however, we did not confent to ; 
but after much perfuafion, agreed to ffay all night. In the 
afternoon I ranged the neighbouring woods in fearch of plants, 
and at night returned to my companion, who ftayed at the 
Becha Cum. As the weather was hot, we chofe to fleep in 
the woods rather than in any of the huts. During the night 
I obferved that there were two guards placed on each fide the 
door of the chief's houfe, who were relieved about every two 
hours. 
On the ninth, I propofed to proceed farther to the eafl, 
allured by the pleafantnefs of the country, and its affording 
