58 
CROSS PURPOSES. 
Chap, III. 
puzzling conversation forthwith ensued between them and their 
guide. One of the most common phrases of the people is Kia 
itumela,” I thank you, or I am pleased; and the gentlemen were 
both quite familiar with it, and with the word “ metse,” water. 
But there is a word very similar in sound, “ Kia timela,” I am 
wandering; its perfect is Ki timetse,” I have wandered. The 
party had been roaming about, perfectly lost, till the sun went 
down; and, tlirough their mistaking the verb “ wander,” for to 
be pleased,” and ‘‘water,” the colloquy went on at intervals 
during the whole bitterly cold night in somewhat the following 
style:— 
“ Where are the waggons ? ” 
Real answer. —“ I don’t know. I have wandered. I never 
wandered before. I am quite lost.” 
Supposed answer. —“ I don’t know. I want water. I am glad, 
I am quite pleased. I am thankful to you.” 
“ Take us to the waggons, and you will get plenty of water.” 
Real answer (looking vacantly around).—“ How did I wander ? 
Perhaps the well is there, perhaps not. I don’t know. I have 
wandered.” 
Supposed answer. —“ Something about thanks ; he says he is 
pleased, and mentions water again.” The guide’s vacant stare, 
wliile trying to remember, is thought to indicate mental imbe¬ 
cility, and the repeated thanks were supposed to indicate a wish 
to deprecate their wrath. 
“ Well, Livingstone has played us a pretty trick, giving us in 
charge of an idiot. Catch us trusting him again. What can 
this fellow mean by liis thanks and talk about water ? 0, you 
born fool! take us to the waggons, and you will get both meat 
and water. Wouldn’t a thrasliing bring him to his senses again?” 
“ No, no, for then he will run away, and we shall be worse off 
than we are now.” 
The hunters regained the waggons next day by their own 
sagacity, which becomes wonderfully quickened by a sojourn in 
the Desert; and we enjoyed a hearty laugh on the explanation of 
their midnight colloquies. Frequent mistakes of this kind occur. 
A man may tell his interpreter to say that he is a member of the 
family of the chief of the white men; “ Yes, you speak like a chiefs'' 
is the reply; meaning, as they explain it, that a chief may talk 
