PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 169 



though eventually it may become one of the 

 staple products of the country. I never met 

 with bees' wax in cakes ; but, from the abund- 

 ance of honey, it is not unlikely, if the natives 

 knew its real value, that it might be collected in 

 considerable quantities. A few ostrich-feathers 

 were offered me ; but they were badly preserved 

 and of a poor quality. Leopard-skins were 

 frequently offered us, but not in sufficient quan- 

 tities to be considered as an article of trade : 

 their price was from two thousand five hundred 

 to three thousand cowries. 



The price of provisions varies considerably : we 

 purchased them principally from canoes, the 

 owners of which, I suppose, like bumboat women, 

 charged well for their trouble in bringing them 

 alongside. Bullocks cost from twelve to twenty 

 thousand cowries each, and weighed from sixty 

 to one hundred and twenty pounds ; goats were 

 from one thousand to one thousand five hundred 

 cowries, weighing from eight to fifteen pounds. 

 Fish we found very cheap : a handkerchief would 

 buy sufficient for a day's consumption. Rice is 

 bought in small grass bags, which hold about 

 two pounds : the price generally was one gun- 

 flint per bag ; — it is sweet, but badly cleaned ; 



