g
preferred the demand of "a man, an ox, a gun, or a tusk." My men had
prepared for defense in case of a night attack, and when the Chiboque
wished to be shown where I lay sick, they very properly refused to point
me out. In the morning I went out to the Chiboque, and found that they
answered me civilly regarding my intentions in opening the country,
teaching them, etc., etc. They admitted that their chiefs 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 here are in the habit of making a present, and
then demanding whatever they choose in return. We had been forewarned of
this by our guides, so I tried to decline, by asking if they would eat
one of the pigs in company with us. To this proposition they said that
they durst not accede. I then accepted the present in the hope that
the 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 the 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 he had every thing else in his
possession but oxen, and that, whatever I should please to demand from
him, he would gladly give 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 over-loyal,
for he armed himself and stood at the gateway. He would rather die than
see his father imposed on; but I ordered Mosantu to take him out of the
way, which he did promptly, and allowed the Chiboque to 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 lives and liberties
of the majority. In the propriety of this they all agreed, and said
that, if the Chiboque molested us who behaved so peaceably, the
guilt would be on their heads. This is a favorite mode of expression
throughout the whole country. All are anxious to give explanation of any
acts they have performed, and conclude the narration with, "I have no
guilt or bla