On the Tana. 
213 
went through them very carefully. Had we got any 
more ? " " Yes, but these were all we had brought 
for their chief Would they do ? " Yes, but there 
were several important things wanting. Why had 
we not brought this t Why had we not brought that 1 " 
" Because," we replied, we had not engaged to do 
so. We had agreed to bring them a certain number 
of articles, and these we had brought.'^ Very good." 
Then they examined the articles again, and divided 
them into several parts, with the apparent intention of 
appropriating some to themselves. Again we objected : 
These goods are for your chief. You yourselves 
made the arrangement with us to bring them, and 
now if you divide and make away with any part of 
them your chief will not be pleased." 
They replied, " You do not know all ; we do. Leave 
everything to us. We are acting for the best." This 
was cool, but we allowed them to proceed, watching 
their schemes carefully. 
They cut up and divided everything, taking about 
one-third themselves, and returning the other two- 
thirds for the chief. It was pretended that the articles 
thus abstracted were to be given to "great men," 
whose good favour it was as necessary to secure as 
that of the chief We suspected some roguery was 
being practised, but said no more for the time. 
Malau displayed, in this business, a little of both his 
cunning and folly. He had recommended the putting 
aside a certain portion of goods, upon the plea that 
the Gallas would covet all they saw, and would give 
us no rest until they obtained it. We told him that 
it was our intention to show them only such things as 
we had brought for them. These we were willing they 
