390 
BEADS AND NATIVE MARKETS. [chap. xiv. 
plantains was remarkably good; this was made by 
grinding the fruit when dried as described; it was 
then, as usual with all other articles in that country, 
most beautifully packed in long narrow parcels, either 
formed of plantain bark or of the white interior of 
rushes worked into mats. This bark served as brown 
paper, but had the advantage of being waterproof. 
The fibre of the plantain formed both thread and cord, 
thus the principal requirements of the natives were 
supplied by this most useful tree. The natives were 
exceedingly clever in working braid from the plantain 
fibre, which was of so fine a texture that it had the 
appearance of a hair chain, nor could the difference be 
detected without a close examination. Small bags 
netted with the same twine were most delicate, and in 
all that was produced in Unyoro there was a remark¬ 
ably good taste displayed in the manufacture. 
The beads most valued were the white opal, the red 
porcelain, and the minute varieties generally used for 
working on screens in England; these small beads' 5 ' of 
various colours were much esteemed, and were worked 
into pretty ornaments, about the shape of a walnut, to 
be worn suspended from the neck. I had a small 
quantity of the latter variety that I presented to Kam- 
rasi, who prized them as we should value precious 
stones. 
Not only were the natives clever generally in their 
ideas, but they were exceedingly cunning in their bar¬ 
gains. Every morning shortly after sunrise, men might 
be heard crying their wares throughout the camp— 
such as, “ Tobacco, tobacco ; two packets going for 
either beads or simbis !” (cowrie shells). “ Milk to sell 
for beads or salt!” “ Salt to exchange for lance heads!” 
“ Coffee, coffee, going cheap for red beads !” “ Butter 
for five jenettos (red beads) a lump !” 
The butter was invariably packed in a plantain leaf, 
but frequently the package was plastered with cow- 
dung and clay, which, when dry, formed a hard coat- 
* These were given to me by Speke at Gondokoro. 
