254 



PURCHASE OF YAMS. 



o'clock,* we found it dead low water, and so shoal that 

 we could not get in at the usual landing place at 

 Keriam, but had to go about a hundred yards farther 

 on. Here Matnmoos at once came down and got into 

 the boat, but begged we would stay a little and get 

 some ketai, of which several parties of women came 

 successively with bundles, and bartered it at a regular 

 rate, under Maramoos's inspection, the price being 

 four roots for a wine bottle or a fig of tobacco. The 

 roots were better than any we had previously got, 

 many of them as large as two fists, and some much 

 bigger but not of so good a quality. In this way 

 we purchased a much larger quantity than we had 

 ever got before atone time, and it appeared as if the 

 yam season was just coming in. They brought, also 

 a few roots, which both looked and tasted like 

 ginger, and which they called " kerakcr." Having 

 nearly exhausted their stock, I was just calling to 

 Mam moos, who stood in the bow of the boat, to 

 come and sit down by me, and go off to the ship, 

 when a boy, called Babouck, came running along 

 the beach with some intelligence apparently of im- 

 portance. On hearing it, Mammoos sprung out of 

 the boat, and began pushing her off, pointing to the 

 ship, and waving us to go, saying "sarreg! sarreg!' 

 • Thinking we were going to be attacked, I seized 

 my gun, and told the men to shove off. 



* Last night the water was equally low at five in the after- 

 noon, so that the tides are very irregular in their times here. 



