brue's first voyage. 
which had been withheld by his predecessor. He 
came next to Kahayde, a place of considerable 
trade upon the river. Here he was visited by the 
chief, who was well mounted, and followed by a 
retinue of about twenty attendants, handsomely 
equipped. His wife, daughters, and female slaves, 
accompanied him, mounted upon asses. The par- 
ticulars of the interview are not given, but some 
trade, though not very satisfactory, appears to 
have been carried on. Of the monarchs of Africa 
our traveller here remarks in general, th^t Euro- 
pean beggars, whatever efFronterj^ they may pos- 
sess, might derive important lessons from the ex- 
ample of these princes. Every gift bestowed, in- 
stead of appeasing their cravings, is considered 
only as affording an opening to demand something 
more. After all forms of request have been ex- 
hausted, borrowing is resorted to, but with the 
firm determination of never repaying. When any 
of these multiplied petitions are rejected, the pro- 
hibition of commerce, or at least the loading it 
with new imposts, is the invariable resort. The 
worst of all is, when an African makes a present, 
for in this case, by immemorial usage, he con- 
ceives himself entitled to a return of at least 
double or triple the value ; so that articles are 
procured much more cheaply at the most disad- 
vantageous market, than by being received e^s 
presents. 
