276 OUR INABILITY TO TRADE. 



Saturday, March 22nd, since which time it had in- 

 creased about two inches. A few drops of rain 

 that fell this morning was all that we had at Id- 

 dah. From absolute measurement with a line, I 

 found that the difference in the level of the water 

 in the course of the year was nearly sixty feet. 



I ardently wished for the commencement of 

 the rains, that I might quit this place ; as, in- 

 dependent of the shameful and treacherous con- 

 duct of Attah, I was doing little or no trade, 

 in consequence of having neither goods nor 

 cowries. More than two hundred and sixty 

 pounds of fine ivory had been brought for sale 

 within the last few days, but for want of cowries 

 I could not purchase them. Our stock of goods 

 was almost exhausted ; and what few articles 

 remained, it was necessary should be taken to 

 Iccory market for cowries in exchange. I en- 

 deavoured to dispose of some salt, but without 

 success, as the natives would not take it. I 

 could not purchase ivory without either cowries 

 or cloth, — and cloth such as the palm-oil vessels 

 bring out would answer as well as the pieces of 

 muslin at sixteen shillings per piece. I saw the 

 cloth that the Iddah traders obtained from the 

 Eboe people : it is a very secondary article. 



