NEW GROUND. 
207 
to foreigners than any of the other great tribes, 
and they have a very unpleasant way of exacting 
tribute from all traders who settle within their 
borders. The chief within whose particular dis¬ 
trict the trader may have established himself, 
has a practice of perpetually levying back¬ 
sheesh; and it is no uncommon occurrence for 
the great man to walk into the store and help 
himself to any articles which may appear to suit 
himself. The traders for a long time tolerated 
what they could not well prevent. But the 
climax was reached a few years ago on this 
coast, when a very powerful and arrogant chief, 
having been invited to a ceremonial repast by a 
well-known Norwegian merchant, near St Augus¬ 
tine’s Bay, proceeded, with the help of his at¬ 
tendant slaves, to clear off from the table the 
remains of the feast, and also the spoons, glasses, 
knives, plates, and linen cloths, which they were 
carrying away with them when their host ex¬ 
postulated, and at length positively refused to 
allow them to remove. The guests went away 
in a state of great excitement at the insult 
which, by a curious process of reasoning, they 
considered had been offered to their chief. 
Nothing further took place, except an occa¬ 
sional bombardment of the store with bullets 
for a few days; but in the absence of the mer¬ 
chant for some hours shortly after, his son was 
