28 THE AFRICAN TRADER.

Spanish dollars, should coin be demanded, though
he relied chiefly on the more advantageous proceed-
ing of barter.

After standing off and on the coast for some
hours, we perceived several large canoes about to be
launched. On either side of each canoe stood a dozen
or fifteen men, holding to the gunwale with one
hand, and carrying a paddle in the other. At asignal
from their head man the canoe was hurried into the
foaming surf ; but, instead of getting in, they swam
by her side, guiding her course, until the first
heavy swell was past, then they threw themselves
simultaneously into her, and began to paddle with
might and main till they got beyond the outer
swell, and on they came, shouting with satisfaction
at the success of their enterprise. Two got off
without accident; but three others, when in the
very midst of the breakers, were swamped, and I
thought that their crews, and, at all events, their
cargoes, would be lost. But no such thing. As I
watched them through the glass I saw that they
were all holding on to the gunwale, shoving her
from side to side, until the water was thrown out,
when in they got again, and began to gather up
numerous articles floating around them. This ac-