54 
“Some Particulars respecting the Negro of the Neigh- 
bourhood of the Congo, West Africa,” by Watson Smith, 
F.C.S. 
These particulars were furnished by Mr. Richard C. 
Phillips in two letters dated respectively July 17th, 1873, 
and July 17, 1874. The parts of the coast are those situ- 
ated between the towns Chillunga, Landana, Cabenda, Am- 
brizette, Kinsembo, and Ambriz. 
With respect to the Coast trading, which chiefly consists 
of a system of barter, the following information is given. 
The articles of barter are chiefly rum, beads, cloth, knives, 
rings, hatchets, and miscellaneous articles of the kind. 
On certain parts of the coast some articles will pass as cur- 
rency to the exclusion of others ; thus beads are essential 
in Ambrizette and Kinsembo, being the true money of the 
country, and in consequence comparatively little spirits are 
used in those places, while at Loango rum plays a most 
prominent part. The produce of the country exchanged by 
the Negroes for the above mentioned articles is as follows : 
Palm nuts, ivory, coffee. No doubt numerous other articles 
are bartered, but those named are principal. 
The African uses most of his rum as money. Suppose a 
Negro trader receives half a gallon; he will divide this into 
many portions— drinking some, giving some to his wives 
(perhaps ten), spending some in palm nuts, casada, corn, 
firewood, &c. The rum is preferred, partly on account of 
its being readily divided without suffering loss of value. 
The same applies to beads, which are preferred in some 
localities. The drinking of spirits is thus very much limited 
by its scarcity, and by its use as currency ; yet occasionally 
drunkenness breaks out and a “ big dance ” is held. One 
thing is evident, viz., that a settled and confirmed taste for 
spirits is being formed amongst these coast natives. Also, 
that this being a tropical country, this fact points to a great 
peril in store for the future of the native people; and not a 
