Our guides now tell the chief, often in blank verse, all they have already told his people, with the addition perhaps of their own suspicions of the visitors.

He asks some questions, and then converses with us through the guides.

Direct communication between the chief and the head of the stranger party is not customary.

In approaching they often ask who is the spokesman, and the spokesman of the chief addresses the person indicated exclusively.

There is no lack of punctilious good manners.