MY MARKET-WOMAN. 291 



at which she smiled, and said she had a right to 

 go where she pleased, for " she was a free wo- 

 man." She was a native of Fundah, and spoke 

 several languages, which made her services more 

 valuable in a market where all tongues are met. 

 She had already been very useful in purchasing 

 small articles, as corn, bread, rice, yams, and 

 pepper, and sometimes in the purchase of ivory. 

 This morning I sent her to a market held on the 

 right or west bank of the river, for palm-wine ; 

 when, to my great annoyance, she was seized, I 

 was told, for debt, which was owed by some of 

 the natives of Iddah. 



The people residing here are called Eyeyan, 

 and it appears this plan of seizing a person who 

 they think will be ransomed is a favourite cus- 

 tom among them. It occurred to me, that it was 

 a plan of the king's to prevent the woman from 

 accompanying me. I sent word to Abboka, re- 

 questing to be informed of any misdemeanours 

 she had committed which rendered her liable to 

 confinement. 



From the hints thrown out by Amagdohby lat- 

 terly, I was inclined to think that Abboka had 

 a share in effecting the seizure of Amerboo, who 

 had given me some important information respect- 



u 2 



