Chap. XX. THEIR JUDGMENT RESPECTING GOODS. 393 



at cock-crowing in the mornings, and by daylight reached the 

 uncultivated parts of the adjacent country, collected a bundle of 

 firewood, and returned to the city. It was then divided into 

 smaller fagots, and sold to the inhabitants ; and as they gave 

 larger quantities than the regular wood-carriers, they found no 

 difficulty in selling. A ship freighted with coal for the cruisers 

 having arrived from England, Mr. Gabriel procured them employ- 

 ment in unloading her at sixpence a-day. They continued at this 

 work for upwards of a month, and nothing could exceed their 

 astonishment at the vast amount of cargo one ship contained. 

 As they themselves always afterwards expressed it, they had 

 laboured every day from sunrise to sunset for a morn and a half, 

 unloading, as quickly as they coidd, " stones that burn," and were 

 tired out, still leaving plenty in her. With the money so obtained 

 they purchased clothing, beads, and other articles to take back to 

 their own country. Their ideas of the value of different kinds of 

 goods, rather astonished those who had dealt only with natives on 

 the coast. Hearing it stated with confidence that the Africans 

 preferred the thinnest fabrics, provided they had gaudy colours 

 and a large extent of surface, the idea was so new to my expe- 

 rience in the interior, that I dissented, and, in order to show 

 the superior good sense of the Makololo, took them to the shop 

 of 3Ir. Schut. When he showed them the amount of general 

 goods which they might procure at Loanda for a single tusk, 

 I requested them, without assigning any reason, to point out the 

 fabrics they prized most. They all, at once selected the strongest 

 pieces of English calico and other cloths, showing that they had 

 regard to strength without reference to colour. I believe that 

 most of the Bechuana nation would have done the same. But I 

 was assured that the people near the coast, with whom the Por- 

 tuguese have to deal, have not so much regard to durability. 

 This probably arises from calico being the chief circulating 

 medium ; quantity being then of more importance than quality. 



During the period of my indisposition, the bishop sent fre- 

 quently to make inquiries, and as soon as I was able to walk, I 

 went to thank him for his civilities. His whole conversation and 

 conduct showed him to be a man of great benevolence and kind- 

 ness of heart. Alluding to my being a Protestant, he stated that 

 he was a Catholic from conviction ; and though sorry to see others, 



