DEMANDS OF THE CHIBOQUE. 
217 
boque wished to be shown where I lay sick, they very 
properly refused to point me out. In the morning 1 went 
out to the Chiboque, and found that they answered mo 
civilly regarding my intentions in opening the country, 
teaching them, &c. &c. They admitted that their chief* 
would be pleased with the prospect of friendship, and now 
only wished to exchange tokens of good-will with me, and 
offered three pigs, which they hoped I would accept. The 
people hero are in the habit of making a present and then 
demanding whatever they choose in return. We had been 
forowarned of this by our guides; so I tried to decline, by 
asking if they would eat one of the pigs in company with 
os. To this proposition they said that they durst not 
accede. I then accepted tho present, in hopo that tho 
blame of deficient friendly feeling might not rest with me, 
and presented a razor, two bunches of beads, and twelve 
copper rings, contributed by my men from their arms. 
They went off to report to their chief ; and, as I was quite 
unable to move from excessive giddiness, we continued in 
fhe same spot on Tuesday evening, when they returned 
with a message couched in very plain terms, that a man, 
tusk, gun, or even an ox, alone would be acceptable; that 
be had every thing else in his possession but oxen, and 
that, whatever I should please to demand from him, he 
would gladly givo it. As this was all said civilly, and 
there was no help for it if we refused but bloodshed, I gave 
a tired riding-ox. My late chief mutineer, an Ambonda 
man, was now overloyal, for he armed himself and stood 
ut the gateway. He would rather die than see his fathei 
imposed on ; but I ordered Mosantu to take him out of th« 
Wa y.- which he did promptly, and allowed the Chiboque t< 
march off well pleased with their booty. I told my men 
that I esteemed one of their lives of more value than all the 
oxen we had, and that the only cause which could induce 
me to fight would be to save the live 3 and liberties of the 
majority. In tne propriety of this they all agreed, and 
■aid that, if the Chiboque molested us who behave* «c 
is 
