100 CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 



held over his head, preceded by his father and other mem- 

 bers of his family, and followed by a rabble escort of 20 

 muskets. His father's present to me consisted of a male 

 goat, a bunch of plantains, and a duck. I had now no 

 small difficulty in keeping the sloop from being constantly 

 crammed with A'isitors, every Fuka, which appears to be a 

 common title of honour, having his linguister, (linguist) and 

 his two or three gentlemen, all equally voracious for brandy, 

 and without whom it is impossible he could move a step. 



The market here we found miserably supplied, being only 

 able to procure a few fowls, a dozen eggs, and some plan- 

 tains, in exchange for beads, that made them come dearer 

 than in a London market. The staple article of trade here 

 seemed to be salt, in which there Avere both wholesale and 

 retail dealers, the former having 40 to 50 baskets, which he 

 sold to the latter by the basket, who retailed it to the con- 

 sumer by the handful, two handfuls for a money mat. 



At four o'clock the sea breeze setting in, we ran up and 

 anchored before the creek of the banza, in 8 fathoms, close 

 to the shore, saluting with four swivels. Here I found 

 a hammock sent by the Chenoo, to convey me to his pre- 

 sence ; but it being too late, I sent his majesty an excuse 

 by the Fuka Sina, who appeared to be extremely angry, 

 because I could not visit the Chenoo in the dark. 



July 27. At ten o'clock I quitted the sloop, with the Natu- 



