A MAGNIFICENT PRESENT. 
269 
carefully and quietly, but said not a word. Then 
his son-in-law informed us aside that it was now time 
to reth'e. We did so with many compliments, trust- 
ing that our visit had produced a favourable im- 
pression. I w^as very anxious to know what was 
thought of the present, — the largest we have yet 
given, much larger than what was received by 
either Hateetah or Wataitee. I sent two of my 
servants about to pick up the nev/s in town. I was 
not disappointed ; I hoped to please his highness, 
and succeeded. He was greatly delighted ; and, 
moreover, displayed immense generosity for an 
African. Immediately we had retired he called 
together all the great people of the town, and thus 
addressed them : " See the fine present these Chris- 
tians have brought me. I shall, however, only take 
a blue burnouse for myself. The rest I give to 
you. Take all else." Tiie notables were greatly 
pleased at being called in to share in the gifts, and 
exclaimed, " The Consul is a fine man ; a man of a 
large heart." So far, so good. But some of the 
lesser men were heard to say, " Ah ! now the 
Christians are in peace, and yet they give us no- 
thing. How much did they give away, and yet get 
no rest !" Sure enough ; but having been thus 
forcedly generous, we had now scarcely anything left 
to give. It would require a thousand camel-loads 
to satisfy all the tribes and people in this route, 
even if their exigencies did not rise in proportion to 
our wealth. 
