DIFFICULTIES IN TRADING. 541 



in the same liberal manner as lie had done to my companions, and 

 they departed for their distant home after bidding him a formal 

 and affectionate adieu. 



It was to be expected that they would be imposed upon in their 

 first attempt at trading, but I believe that this could not be so 

 easily repeated. It is, however, unfortunate that in dealing with 

 the natives in the interior there is no attempt made at the estab- 

 lishment of fair prices. The trader shows a quantity of goods, 

 the native asks for more, and more is given. The native, being 

 ignorant of the value of the goods or of his ivory, tries what an- 

 other demand will bring. After some haggling, an addition is 

 made, and that bargain is concluded to the satisfaction of both 

 parties. Another trader comes, and perhaps offers more than the 

 first ; the customary demand for an addition is made, and he yields. 

 The natives by this time are beginning to believe that the more 

 they ask the more they will get : they continue to urge, the trader 

 bursts into a rage, and the trade is stopped, to be renewed next 

 day by a higher offer. The natives naturally conclude that they 

 were right the day before, and a most disagreeable commercial in- 

 tercourse is established. A great amount of time is spent in con- 

 cluding these bargains. In other parts, it is quite common to see 

 the natives going from one trader to another till they have fin- 

 ished the whole village ; and some give presents of brandy to 

 tempt their custom. Much of this unpleasant state of feeling be- 

 tween natives and Europeans results from the commencements 

 made by those who were ignorant of the language, and from the 

 want of education being given at the same time. 



During the time of our absence at Loanda, the Makololo had 

 made two forays, and captured large herds of cattle. One, to the 

 lake, was in order to punish Lechulatebe for the insolence he 

 had manifested after procuring some fire-arms ; and the other to 

 Sebola Makwaia, a chief living far to the N.E. This was most 

 unjustifiable, and had been condemned by all the influential 

 Makololo. Ben Habib, however, had, in coming from Zanzibar, 

 visited Sebola Makwaia, and found that the chief town was gov- 

 erned by an old woman of that name. She received him kindly, 

 and gave him a large quantity of magnificent ivory, sufficient to 

 set him up as a trader, at a very small cost ; but, his party having 

 discharged their guns, Ben Habib observed that the female chief 



