A TOUGH CUSTOMER. 277 



harangue, talking all manner of nonsense, and endeav- 

 oring to obtain a nnusket for these two teeth. At 

 length a third tusk was brought, but it was a small 

 one. It was now late in the afternoon, so I told the 

 king that I was going to take a walk in the mountains 

 to obtain a view of his country. He said that he was 

 going to buy one of the muskets immediately, and re- 

 quested that I would not leave the wagons. After sit- 

 ting talking with his men till it was near sunset, he 

 once more offered me two tusks for a gun. I replied 

 that I had already spoken. He then said he was going 

 home, and that he did not know if he would come again 

 to trade with me. If the king had indeed resolved not 

 to trade with me, no request on my part would have 

 altered the case. So I replied that I had never asked 

 him to purchase any thing, and was perfectly indiffer- 

 ent whether he did or not; that there were othei t^hiefs 

 who were anxious to purchase my goods, and that my 

 reason for visiting his territory was to enjoy the sport 

 of elephant hunting. Having thus spoken, I wished 

 him good evening, and, shouldering my rifle, stalked 

 up the rocky ravine and shot two baboons. 



At an early hour on the following morning Sicomy 

 was at the wagons, and, having breakfasted, he com- 

 menced as on the previous day to endeavor to purchase 

 a gun with two tusks. At length I said that he should 

 have one for three tusks, provided they were large 

 After a protracted discussion, the third tusk was pro- 

 duced, when I handed him a musket. He next bother- 

 ed for a bullet-mold, which I also gave him into the bar- 

 gain. Havinsr obtained the mold, he insisted on hav- 

 ing a lead-ladle. That I said I could not give him with 

 one gun ; but promised if he dealt liberally with me he 

 should have one He continued his importunity about 



