502 
DIFFICULTIES IN TKADING. 
Chap. XXV. 
Mr. G. behaved in the same liberal manner as he had done to 
my companions, and they departed for their distant home, after 
bidding him a formal and afiectionate adieu. 
It was to be expected that they would be imposed upon in 
their first attempt at trading, but I believe that this could not be 
so easily repeated. It is, however, unfortunate that in dealing with 
the natives in the interior, there is no attempt made at the esta¬ 
blishment of fair prices. The trader shows a quantity of goods, 
the native asks for more, and more is given. The native, being 
ignorant of the value of the goods or of liis ivory, tries what 
another demand will bring. After some haggling, an addition is 
made, and that bargain is concluded to the satisfaction of both 
parties. Another trader comes, and perhaps offers more than the 
first; the customary demand for an addition is made, and he 
yields. The natives by this time are beginning to believe that 
the more they ask, the more they will get: they continue to 
urge, the trader bm^sts into a rage, and the trade is stopped, to 
be renewed next day by a higher offer. The natives naturally 
conclude that they were right the day before, and a most dis- 
agTceable commercial intercourse is established. A great amoimt 
of time is spent in concluding these bargains. In other parts, it 
is quite common to see the natives going from one trader to 
another, tiU they have finished the whole village; and some give 
presents of brandy to tempt theft custom. Much of this unpleasant 
state of feehng between natives and Em^opeans, results from the 
commencements made by those who were ignorant of the language, 
and from the want of education being given at the same time. 
During the time of our absence at Loanda, the Makololo had 
made two forays, and captured large herds of cattle. One, to the 
lake, was in order to punish Lechulatebe for the insolence he 
had manifested after procuring some fire-arms; and the other to 
Sebola Makwaia, a chief Hving far to the N.E. This was most 
unjustifiable, and had been condemned by all the influential 
Makololo. Ben-Habib, however, had, in coming from Zanzibar, 
visited Sebola Makwaia, and found that the chief town was go¬ 
verned by an old woman of that name. She received him kindly, 
and gave him a large quantity of magnificent ivory, sufficient to 
set him up as a trader, at a very small cost; but, his party having 
discharged their guns, Ben-Habib observed that the female cliief 
