280 VALUE OF A DOLLAR. 
riches actually belonged to him. He inquired 
in pantomime if he might really keep both neck- 
laces; and on my assuring him that he might, 
the old man forgot his dignity, and jumped 
about like a boy with the beads in his hand, 
calling out, ‘“‘ Very good! very good!” A fat 
treasurer shared the joy of his lord, and punc- 
tiliously imitated its expression, though not 
without some difficulty. When this tumult of 
pleasure had a little subsided, the latter pro- 
duced a small basket very prettily plaited, and 
provided with a lid, and placed in it the costly 
acquisitions of the Hgeh ; who himself took from 
it a Spanish dollar, and endeavoured to make me 
comprehend the question, whether this would 
purchase more blue beads. 
To judge if he had any idea of the value of 
money, I offered him a single bead for his dol- 
lar ; he immediately closed with the bargain, and, 
fearing that I might repent of mine, snatched up 
the bead and thrust the money intomy hand. I 
returned it to him; but, to his delight and asto- 
nishment, left him in possession of the bead. Inow 
tried to learn from him how he came by this coin. 
