In a Native Caravan 
to observe and learn. The interpreter was sent 
out to the principal market-place to notify pro¬ 
fessional carriers that 1 wanted to go to Ejahyay. 
The next day many people, both men and women, 
came to see about it. Those needed for the ham¬ 
mock were soon engaged, but when it came to 
the loads, the trouble began. Provisions, bedding, 
clothing, cooking utensils, household articles and 
such things, had been carefully divided up into 
packages of the usual weight; but when those who 
had come to offer their services lifted the packages 
they put them down with looks of affected dis¬ 
satisfaction and, declaring that they were too 
heavy for the ordinary charge, demanded about 
double that sum. This being refused, they all 
left. In a short time the exact number we 
needed returned and through their spokesman or 
“head carrier,” abated their demands a little. 
This being refused, they again left in a body. 
This time, however, they had hardly gotten out 
of sight before they returned and, finding that 
they were dealing with an agbalagba (man of 
experience), they came to terms. 
Everything being settled, the carriers quickly 
and easily s\yung the loads to little cushions on 
their heads and trotted off in single file at a kind 
of shuffling “double quick,” the head carrier 
45 
