326 INTERESTED VISITORS. 



brings a tolerable price, 223 lbs. fetching 25,395 

 cowries.* 



In the afternoon several of the traders and 

 Abboka's sons, from whom I had not received a 

 single present, came alongside, evidently in ex- 

 pectation of receiving something. To some I 

 gave, and others I refused. One of them, al- 

 though in his own country, wanted me to give 

 him some yams ; such is their covetousness. 



One trader came on board somewhat under the 

 influence of beer and rum, and only asked some 

 little trifle to take with him to Iddah, " Sullikee, 

 Sullikee," he kept saying, " bashee, bashee," 

 (give me, give me), and at last requested me to 

 give him something to eat. I told him that if 

 he would remain on board until sunset, he should 

 have something to eat. He invited his wives on 

 board, that they might receive something as well ; 

 and I purchased from him a tooth, weighing six- 

 ty-eight pounds and a half, for forty-eight thou- 

 sand cowries and seven red caps, making a total 

 of fifty thousand five hundred cowries, or about 

 sixpence per pound, which I considered exceed- 

 ingly cheap. 



* Twenty-five thousand cowries would purchase an ele- 

 phant's tooth weighing thirty pounds. 



