86 TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
scended to smile at the amber, but on looking at 
the dollars and coral for some time, with an air 
of the greatest indifference, he said something 
to his own people, and told us that he would not 
accept of so trifling an offer from such great 
men, particularly as he had been told we had 
given more to the king of Katoba, whom he 
looked on as a very petty chief indeed. Modiba 
said much to induce him to take it, but to no ef- 
fect. We therefore returned to the camp leaving 
him, great as was his avarice, paying more at- 
tention to the rum bottle than what had been 
going forward. 
While we were talking to Modiba on the best 
means of satisfying Mansa, and at the same 
time those about him, the former made his ap- 
pearance, coming from the town, attended by 
about fifty people singing and beating drums. 
He seated himself under a tree, at a short dis- 
tance from our camp, and sent Modiba, who 
had gone to meet him, to let us know he came 
to pay his respects. When we went to him, he 
beckoned me to sit beside him, w^hich I did in 
apparent good humour ; after the usual saluta- 
tions, he begged a piece of muslin to make a 
dress. This was complied with, when he said, 
he had brought a bullock for supper, but added 
that we did not shew ourselves inclined to think 
well of him, in giving him so poor a present. 
