502 DIFFICULTIES IN TRADING. Chap. XXV. 



Mr. Gr. behaved in the same liberal manner as he 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 esta- 

 blishment 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 

 another 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 

 mge, 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 dis- 

 agreeable commercial intercourse is established. A great amount 

 of time is spent in concluding these bargains. In other parts, it 

 is quite common to see the natives going from one trader to 

 another, till they have finished the whole village ; and some give 

 presents of brandy to tempt their custom. Much of this unpleasant 

 state of feeling between 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 go- 

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

 and gave him a large quantity of magnificent ivoiy, 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 



