122 EXORBITANT DEMANDS OF ATTAH. 



learned that the steamer, the Quorra, was on 

 the Big Water (meaning the sea), and had been 

 at Calebar. 



On Tuesday, October 22nd, Mr. Lander being 

 indisposed, an.d unable to wait upon the king 

 with goods according to appointment, I at- 

 tended, taking with me Mr. Brown, the clerk, 

 and some men to carry them. I had little or 

 no success, in consequence of the exorbitant de- 

 mands of his majesty, who wanted a bale of red 

 cloth for a very small tooth ; and, after opening 

 and disordering all the articles, he told us he 

 would send his queen down, and we might leave 

 the goods. To this proposal, however, I refused 

 to assent. I made an offer of a quantity of 

 goods for a tooth ; but it being rejected, I order- 

 ed them to be again packed up. He urged me 

 strongly to leave them ; but I told him that white 

 men never transacted business in that manner, 

 and that if he would give me the teeth, I would 

 return goods to what I considered an equivalent 

 amount. 



He told us that he had a house full of 

 ivory, and despatched some eunuchs for two 

 large teeth. In a few minutes they came. He 

 exultingly asked, " Can you afford to buy them?" 



