156 
PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 
it cover the hillsides, a rivulet sometimes dividing the 
field; the trunks are trimmed of the leaves which 
have been torn into shreds by the wind ; fresh shoots 
are planted ; and the whole orchard is industriously 
superintended. 
The natives asked us ludicrous prices for their pro- 
ducts. Our beads, the manufacture of Venice, were 
of little value, from fourteen to twenty-five (size of 
pigeon-eggs) being given for a single goat, and a propor- 
tionate number for a cow. This our Seedees thought 
a great contrast to their native country of Uhiao, 
where a bucketful of flour, with a fowl on the top, 
could be obtained for one necklace of ordinary beads. 
But here the women were double the size round the 
waist that they were anywhere else, and they must 
have beads enough to begird them once before a goat 
can be parted with. They would refuse us milk and 
butter, because it was not their custom to sell them, 
and because we eat fowls, and the bean called maha- 
rageh ; but on making them a present of several coils 
of brass wire (thirteen), we could procure a quart- 
sized wooden jar of butter. In November, grain is 
scarce. The natives brought salt to exchange for it ; and 
on being offered meat instead, they have been known 
to refuse it, because the allowance was not so large and 
satisfactory to them as grain. When marching, the 
head-men of the villages had orders from their sultan 
to supply our camp with sufficient provision for the 
day. A quantity of sweet potatoes, some pumpkins, 
fowls, and a goat, were generally given, and a present 
of cloth and brass wire was made them in return. 
Plantain-wine was seldom presented : it seemed to 
have conveniently run dry on our arrival ! English 
