VISIT FROM THE QUEEN. 241 



to beg and Abboka is one of them. I was fre- 

 quently amused at the stratagems he employed 

 to obtain a part of every bullock that I had 

 killed. This morning one of his sons came 

 down, bringing a large camel-skin bag, used as 

 a bag for cowries. He came for some beef, with 

 Abboka's respects, and requested me to send him 

 the skin to be prepared for sitting and sleep- 

 ing on. I gave him a fore quarter and the skin ; 

 but the youth remained on board until night, 

 lest he should be seen with the beef. 



The next day I despatched Jowdie to the 

 queen, to inquire if she intended to honour us 

 with a visit. She sent word that she would be 

 down about noon, when the sun was at its great- 

 est height. (The method adopted by these peo- 

 ple for computing time is by the sun's height.) 

 About noon she made her appearance, attended 

 by her brother and a few eunuchs, but brought 

 with her only a small quantity of ivory, which 

 we purchased. A small tooth called a scrivelloe 

 was offered us ; but the queen would not accept 

 the price we thought sufficient for it. She seem- 

 ed surprised at my refusing to give what she de- 

 manded ; but her surprise was increased when I 

 told her that she might take the scrivelloe away. 



VOL. II. R 



