A PALAVER. 
153 
to keep pace — no slow one — with their drinking. 
As the spirit circulated, the hostile feeling de- 
veloped, especially as the discussion had merged 
into another— -viz., that I should be persuaded 
to leave Ritabel and dwell in Waitidal, They 
found I had sold much cloth and knives in Rita- 
bel, but had brought none over to them : I could 
have plenty of fowls among them ; they would 
find me no end of birds, and would not cheat 
me in the way the Ritabel people were doing. 
To this, of course, I could not agree, and put 
my refusal as pleasantly as I could. I tried to 
bring the palaver to a close by rising to leave ; 
but this they would not permit, for one of them 
barred my exit by sitting on guard on the mar- 
gin of the hatch. I shortly discovered that the 
subject of their excited wrangling was whether 
I should be permitted to leave at all. My guide, 
after whispering to me not to be alarmed, and 
adding a remark I did not comprehend, went 
away, luckily leaving the door open, intending, 
as I imagined, to return soon ; but lie either 
joined some other drinking-party and forgot to 
do so, or purposely left me to my own resources. 
Pretending to be quite pleased to prolong my 
visit, I presented my cup for more spirit, and as 
successive rounds were filled my companions 
