UNPLEASANT DISCOVERIES. 289 



despatched Muzza to him to say that I was 

 in great want of cowries, and with a request 

 that he would either return the sword, umbrella, 

 and beads, or their value in sixty-five thousand 

 cowries. To this request, however, he sent word 

 that the queen would settle it when she came on 

 board. If I asked her about it, she would tell me 

 that she would see the king about it, as usual : 

 and having no means of obtaining redress, I was 

 obliged to bear with such deceit and trifling. 



A hundred pounds of ivory were purchased. 

 Several hundred weight has been sent away for 

 want of goods to purchase it. 



On the 7th April, three knives were found 

 concealed among the wood ashes of the engine 

 fireplace, two of which belonged to the cabin. 

 One of them had been missing since the 18th of 

 March ; and I had no doubt they were secreted 

 there by the Kroomen, who had intended to take 

 them ashore the first opportunity as presents to 

 the women. A box of soap was also found bro- 

 ken open, and one bar missing : this was the 

 second that had been opened, though the 

 forecastle is kept constantly locked, and only 

 opened by Mr. Brown. These were disagreeable 

 discoveries, and proved to me that there was no 



VOL. II. u 



