346 
park's first journey* 
dressed in the steam of broth made with animal 
food. The shea-toidoUy a tree, which, in food, is 
substituted for butter, and in domestic purposes 
for oil, is obtained in great quantities from the 
interior districts. The trade of the negroes is 
conducted by barter ; and, in order to adjust the 
value of their different articles of commerce, they 
appeal to a nominal standard, which, from Sene- 
gal to Cape Mount, is termed a bar ; from Cape 
Mount to Cape Palmas, a piece ; from Cape Pal- 
mas to Whidah, an ackey ; from Whidah to Be- 
nin, 2ipawn; and from Benin to Gabon, a copper. 
These denominations originated from the particu- 
lar species of merchandise for which the negroes 
shewed the greatest avidity, when Europeans be- 
gan to trade on these coasts. On the Gambia, 
that quantity of any particular species of goods 
which is valued at a bar of irouy is denominated 
a bar of that commodity. 
On 2d December 179«5, at the commencement 
of the dry season, Mr Park departed from Pisania, 
without waiting for the coffle, a caravan of slatees, 
or slave-traders, of whose jealousy he was appre- 
hensive. He advanced into the kingdom of Walli, 
attended by two negro servants, and accompa- 
nied by two slatees of the SerawooUi nation, and 
two free Mahometan negroes, of whom one was 
going to Bambara, and the other, a blacksmith, 
who had been employed by Dr Laidley, was re- 
