SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
349 
round in a circle, to form a space within them, in 
which they might be sheltered from these solicita- 
tions. Tobacco and snuff were the objects in most 
eager demand. One of the king's wives having 
asked Mr Read for a supply, was answered, that he 
did not take snuff ; on which she observed that he 
would, on that account, have the more to spare. 
Soon after, Mateebe, the present sovereign, and 
son to the king, who had received the former par- 
ty, arrived from a hunting expedition. He march- 
ed through the town with numerous attendants, 
bearing spears and poles dressed with black ostrich 
feathers. He passed through the square without 
taking any notice of the strangers ; but after hav- 
ing spent about ten minutes in conversation with 
his ministers, he called them in. His first recep- 
tion was not extremely courteous, and he rather 
declined the proposition of a permanent mission 
being established at Leetakoo, urging that the peo- 
ple were so much occupied with their cattle, plant- 
ing, and other branches of industry, that they 
could have little time to receive instruction. Mr 
Campbell, however, urging that the Europeans* 
though Christians, were much more industrious 
than the Boshuanas, as might be judged even by 
the specimens which he brought along with him, 
the king at length agreed that missionaries might 
be sent, and that he would treat them well. 
It appears, that since the visit of Messrs Trut- 
