THE GUM TRADE. 
133 
tions for the ship's crew are performed ; and where the 
master may repose when he comes on shore. He must 
now have an interpreter to carry on conversation between 
himself and the marabouts^ and this interpreter is paid and 
fed on board; the aloums are also fed at the joint expense 
of all the merchants. The princes and princesses who 
come to the port must also be fed, and any one who should 
refuse to conform to this practice would lose his right of 
trading. 
When a prince arrives, he sometimes takes up his abode 
on board one of the ships, where he is politely received, and 
allowed to be as troublesome as he pleases, for fear he should 
interrupt the traffic. He takes possession of the cabin, 
throws himself on the master's bed, calls for treacle and 
water to drink, and worries his host with incessant questions. 
At dinner, he sits down at table without invitation, thrusts 
his fingers into all the dishes, tastes all the victuals, and puts 
back what he dislikes after it has been in his mouth ; he 
touches every thing with his dirty hands, takes bread, sugar, 
and whatever he pleases, pretending all the time, that he 
likes nothing, and boasting of the good cheer that is to be 
found in his own camp. 
It may seem possible that a Mulatto born at Senegal, 
accustomed from his childhood to such behaviour, and 
having but an imperfect notion of European manners, should 
put up with this treatment ; but how a European, and a 
Frenchman, can endure it, is what I never could comprehend, 
though I have seen it. It is true that it is in general the 
clerks of traders at St. Louis who are forced to submit to 
these customs, for fear of compromising the interests of the 
houses by which they are sent. They have only one chance 
of avoiding the annoyance of such guests, and eating their 
meals in peace ; and that is, to have every thing cooked 
with bacon or pork ; the Moor, in that case, will eat what 
has been prepared for him in a corner by himself ; but he 
