142 INTERFERENCE WITH TARIFF. Chap. VI. 



fined me for disturbing the peace of the country. The Banyai 

 would have robbed those of my party behind, of the ivory, and 

 all the redress to be obtained from our authorities would have 

 been the mortification of knowing, that, on hearing my com- 

 plaint they had sent up to the Banyai to purchase my ivory 

 at a cheap rate for themselves." 



The senior officer, since deceased, was Acting Commandant 

 of the fort at Tette, and was a rare specimen of a Governor. 

 Soon after he came into power he passed a sumptuary law 

 defining the market prices of native produce. Owing to the 

 desolating wars of former years, the cost of provisions was 

 nearly three times as much as in bygone days ; so his Excel- 

 lency determined to reduce prices to their former standard, 

 and proclaimed that in future twenty-four fowls instead 

 of eight were to be sold for two yards of calico, and that 

 the prices of sheep, goats, and oil should be reduced in like 

 proportion. The first native who came to market refused 

 to sell his fowls at Government prices, and was at once 

 hauled up before the irate Commandant, and, for contumacy 

 to this new re-enactment of old laws, condemned to be 

 marched up and down the street all day, with his cackling 

 merchandise hung round his neck, and then sent to prison to 

 pass the night. Another poor fellow brought a pot of ground- 

 nut-oil for sale, and was condemned to drink of it largely, for 

 refusing to sell it at the legal rate. The only difficulty that 

 this gentleman met with in carrying out his reforms arose 

 from the natives declining to come with their produce until 

 the laws were repealed. 



As there is a pretty high tariff on all imported wines and 

 spirits, Tette for a mere village must yield a respectably 

 large revenue. The climate is usually blamed for every- 

 thing ; thus the merchants, being of a social turn, have night 



