Chap. XX. THElll JUDGMENT EESPECTING GOODS. 
393 
at cock-crowing in tlie mornings^ and by daylight reached the 
uncultivated parts of the adjacent country, collected a bundle of 
firewood, and returned to the city. It was then divided into 
smaller fagots, and sold to the inhabitants; and as they gave 
larger quantities than the regular wood-carriers, they found no 
difficulty in selhng. A ship freighted with coal for the cruisers 
having arrived from England, Mr. Gabriel procured them employ¬ 
ment in unloading her at sixpence a-day. They continued at this 
work for upwards of a month, and nothing could exceed their 
astonishment at the vast amount of cargo one ship contained. 
As they themselves always afterwards expressed it, they had 
laboured every day from sunrise to sunset for a moon and a half, 
unloading, as quickly as they could, “ stones that burn,” and were 
tired out, still leaving plenty in her. With the money so obtained 
they purchased clothing, beads, and other articles to take back to 
their own country. Their ideas of the value of different kinds of 
goods, rather astonished those who had dealt only with natives on 
the coast. Hearing it stated with confidence that the Africans 
preferred the thinnest fabrics, provided they had gaudy colours 
and a large extent of surface, the idea was so new to my expe¬ 
rience in the interior, that I dissented, and, in order to show 
the superior good sense of the Makololo, took them to the shop 
of Mr. Schut. When he showed them the amount of general 
goods which they might procure at Loanda for a single tusk, 
I requested them, without assigning any reason, to point out the 
fabrics they prized most. They all, at once selected the strongest 
pieces of Enghsli calico and other cloths, showing that they had 
regard to strengfli without reference to colour. I believe that 
most of the Bechuana nation would have done the same. But I 
was assured that the people near the coast, with whom the Por¬ 
tuguese have to deal, have not so much regard to durability. 
This probably arises from calico being the chief circulating 
medium; quantity being then of more importance than quality. 
Dmffig the period of my indisposition, the bishop sent fre¬ 
quently to make inquiries, and as soon as I was able to walk, I 
went to thank him for his civfiities. His whole conversation and 
conduct showed him to be a man of great benevolence and kind¬ 
ness of heart. Alluding to my being a Protestant, he stated that 
he was a Catholic from conviction; and though sorry to see others, 
