TRADING WITH NATIVES. 29

 

‘complished, off they came as if nothing had hap-
pened. As they got alongside I discovered the
reason why their effects did not sink—some were
casks of palm oil, which naturally floated, while
the elephants’ tusks and other pieces of ivory, were
fastened to large floats of cork-wood, and several
of the men had small light wooden boxes, which
contained gold dust, secured to their waists. Though
these were of a weight sufficient greatly to incum-
ber, if not to sink, an ordinary swimmer, so expert
were they in the water that they appeared in no
way to be inconvenienced. . Several of them re-
cognized Captain Willis, who had frequently before
been off the coast, and having been fairly dealt
with by him, and aware that he knew the price
they would be ready to take, gave him very little
trouble. Some, however, tried to outwit him, but
he was very firm with them, and let them under-
stand that he was indifferent to trading except on
equitable terms. Altogether he was well satisfied
with the result of his first day’s business.

We stood off the coast before the sea breeze
died away, and returned again on the following
morning. This sort of work we continued for
several days. It was, however, a very tedious