CAPTAIN 'TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE. 17] 
and three strings of beads. I now found that Prince Schi 
(alias Simmons) had deserted, and taken with him four of 
the best men I had brought from Embomma, as porters; and 
just as I was setting off, the Chenoo and all his possé came 
to me, to let me know that my interpreter had violated 
their customs, and his own word, having bargained with 
two of the head gentlemen for their wives (one, the first time 
I was at Cooloo, and the other the night preceding), for 
two fathoms a night, which having no means of paying, he 
had concealed himself, or ran off to Embomma. Though 
sufficiently irritated, I could not forbear smiling at their 
manner of relating the circumstance, as well as at their 
expectations, that I would either pay to the husbands the 
stipulated price, or permit them to seize Simmons, and sell 
him asaslave. In order to avoid either of these alternatives, 
I promised that, on my return, I would arrange the affair 
amicably ; with which, after a long palaver, which cost me 
some brandy, they were obliged to be satisfied. 
Having thus lost my interpreter, I was obliged to 
offer very high terms to the only person with me, who could 
supply his place; a man whom we had picked up at 
Embomma, and employed as one of the boats crew, 
but who, having been in England five years, spoke the lan- 
guage as wellas Simmons, and his own much better; I 
therefore at once promised him the value of aslave and other 
