GOLD ! GOLD ! 227 



ivory, which they placed but a trifling value on, and 

 gold, which they evidently knew was a more appre- 

 ciated commodity by the white man. This valuable 

 metal they had stored in vultures' quills, closed with 

 wax, each containing, on a rough estimate, upwards 

 of half an ounce. Gunpowder was the chief object 

 of barter they desired, still brass wire and beads were 

 not without attractions. The gold was in small grains 

 about the size of Nos. 6 or 7 shot, and almost in every 

 instance perfectly spherical, clearly proving that it 

 had been for some time submitted to the action of 

 water, and that it had travelled a considerable dis- 

 tance from the matrix previous to its being exhumed 

 from the watercourse in which it was found. 



By this time I possessed as much ivory as I 

 believed that I could find transport for, so was 

 obliged to decline making further additions to my 

 store ; however, it was different with the metal, a 

 pound, more or less, would go a long way, and could 

 easily be carried about Dillon's or my own person, 

 so that night, before I turned in, I had possessed 

 myself of over ten or twelve ounces of it. 



These new arrivals were excellent traders, and 

 good natured withal ; one, who appeared the head 

 man, conducted the business of his companions, not, 

 however, without permitting the principal to have a 

 voice in the transaction. There never was a dis- 

 agreement, not even haggling ; what the head-man 

 decided was done without objection or remonstrance. 



Q ? 



