king's obie's covetousness. 389 



begged almost everything he saw. Even when 

 I was at his house, he wished me to give him a 

 shirt, a pair of stockings, a pair of shoes, and sus- 

 penders ; and ** then," said he, " I shall be all the 

 same as white man !" He also admired my scarlet 

 tobe, and asked me for it ; but it was convenient 

 not to understand him. Mr. Lander presented 

 him with a splendid officer's coat ; notwithstand- 

 ing which, he was yet dissatisfied, and asked him 

 for everything he saw. Another looking-glass was 

 presented to him ; another was placed on one side 

 of the boat, which when he observed, he asked 

 permission to look at it, admired it, and handed it 

 to his people to pass into the canoe with the great- 

 est indifference ; and although he was told it was 

 intended for the king of Attah, it was all the 

 same to him. I was surprised to find him so co- 

 vetous ; but it would have been bad policy to 

 deny him anything after he had once seen it. A 

 fine breeze springing up, we set sail, Obie pro- 

 mising to send the four canoe-boys after us. 



The Eboes, like most savages, are a pilfering 

 race. I witnessed one specimen of their ingenu- 

 ity in this respect. During the time Obie was 

 in the boat, some of his people were caught 

 stealing a lamp and a pair of blanket trousers of 



