ORIGIN OF AFRICAN WAR. 255 



I learned that the Ibbodo natives had attended 

 the last Iccory market, being the first they have 

 for nearly two moons, in consequence of a war 

 between them and the natives of a town near 

 Cuttum-CurafFee, which arose from a dispute 

 between a puUaboy and one of the Ibbodo 

 people. This boy had bought some spice-balls 

 from a woman at the town near Cuttum-Curafiee, 

 and would not pay the price for them; on which 

 the husband of the woman who sold them de- 

 termined to be revenged ; for which purpose 

 he assembled some of his friends, and on the 

 Ibbodo canoes coming down, attacked them, and 

 killed two of the people. Thus a war com- 

 menced, and promised to last some time ; seve- 

 ral lives had been lost, and all in consequence of 

 a dispute about four cowries, — four shells ! The 

 spice-balls are made of pounded Dower corn, or 

 flour and Cayenne pepper, baked on a stone over 

 the fire. 



A new house was built to-day over the fore- 

 castle ; but being short of mats we were unable 

 to complete it. The carpenter was again in- 

 disposed. 



At 8 p. M. of the 8th March, Al Hadge and 

 Muzza, two of Abboka's head slaves, came on 



