236 CAREFULNESS OF THE SHOANS. 



of the whole lot, that may happen to he in the 

 possession of the party from whom they are 

 receiving them ; the time so occupied being some- 

 times provokingly long. At length the single ahmu- 

 lah is fixed upon, a last hurried look over the remain- 

 ing pile as they lie displayed upon the floor is taken, 

 then a glance at the chosen one in the hand, and 

 with such an effort, as if the party felt convinced that 

 he had taken the least ; he at last reluctantly tears 

 himself away from the fascinating examination of 

 their relative value. 



Dollars, again, are first well scrubbed Avith the 

 fingers, then spit upon, followed by a good rub 

 in the hair, and very probably, after all, the coin is 

 handed back with a sagacious shake of the head, 

 as much as to say, " I am not going to be done in that 

 way," but seldom a word passes between the parties. 

 A salt banker at length being found who is content 

 to take the chance of the dollar being a counter- 

 feit, a good deal of higgling then takes place 

 whether nineteen or twenty ahmulahs shall be 

 given, but supposing the dollar is declared to be of 

 the first order, the broker in that case generally 

 gives way, and the full value is obtained. 



It not unfrequently happens, either from care- 

 lessness or atmospherical causes, that the ahmulahs 

 become very cellular and light. In that case the 

 holes are stopped up with a paste of meal and fine 

 salt dust, but the ahmulah so adulterated is gene- 

 rally rejected at once when offered, or a very con- 



