W. F. Daniell, Esq., on the Natives of Old Callebar, 325 



cloth, a small jar containing longitudinal pieces of the rind 

 of the wine nut, (Sagus pedunculata) was placed on the table, 

 in conjunction with large decanters of palm- wine, spirits, 

 champagne, &c. ; for their country usages do not permit them 

 to drink during the progress, but always after the termination 

 of the meal. The ewer and basin were again called in requi- 

 sition, and after a few hours of convivial enjoyment, in which 

 our kind host fully participated, we departed to our respective 

 vessels, amply satisfied with our cordial reception." 



There are two markets in Callebar town, the first, termed 

 the King's or Great Market, on account of its close proximity 

 to the monarch's residence, is the one principally resorted to 

 by the population of the surrounding country. The other, 

 known as the Qua Market, from the circumstance of its being 

 held on an open area on the road leading to the village of 

 Qua, is one of minor note, and not so numerously attended as 

 the one previously mentioned ; it is, moreover, only held twice 

 a-week. The appointed hours for the assembling of the fair 

 is usually from 10 to 12 in the morning, but it very rarely 

 exceeds the latter period. A visit to one of these native fairs 

 would furnish a curious and rather amusing spectacle to an 

 European traveller who was not conversant with African cus- 

 toms in the Bights. Long prior to his arrival at these scenes 

 of , busy traffic and noisy contention, the low murmuring hum 

 of the litigating crowd of purchasers and venders is plainly 

 audible for some distance, from amidst the mass of domiciles 

 by which the market area is enclosed. At a stated hour the 

 natives of the predial districts flock in great numbers to the 

 allotted rendezvous, burdened with.the produce of their farms, 

 or with fabricated articles suitable for the fair, which they 

 advantageously display, with all the " savoirfaire" of expert 

 tacticians. The majority of the people sit on the ground in 

 irregular lines or groups, encompassed by dense multitudes 

 of all ages and sexes. Among the necessaries of life 

 exhibited for sale may be enumerated Mallagetta pepper, 

 dried and fresh capsicums, bamboo, cola, and palm nuts, yams, 

 bananas, plantains, pine apples, sugar-canes, ochures, palm-oil 

 in jars, sweet potatoes, cocoa-nuts, cassada, groundnuts, limes, 

 oranges, shadocks, papayas, honey, Indian corn in profusion, 



