Porto da Lenha. 
95 
modified negro “sass.” The chiefs begin early 
morning by going their rounds for drink, and end 
business between 7 and 10 a.m. Everywhere on 
this coast a few hours of work support a “ gentle¬ 
man even the comparatively industrious and 
hard-working Egbas rarely do anything after noon. 
These lords and masters are fully aware that the 
white men are their willing slaves as long as the 
large profits last. If a glass of watered rum, which 
they detect more easily than we do watered milk, 
be offered to them, it will be thrown in the donor’s 
face. Every factory must keep a barrel of spirits 
ready broached if the agents would buy eggs and 
yams, and the poorest negro comes regularly with 
his garrafa. The mixed stuff costs per bottle only 
a hundred reis (= fourpence), and thoroughly de¬ 
moralizes the black world. 
We landed at once, sent our letters to M. Mon- 
teiro, who hospitably offered his house, and passed 
the day quickly enough in a round of visits. 
Despite the general politeness and attention to 
us, we found a gloom overhanging the place : as 
at Whydah, its glories have departed, nor shall they 
ever return. The jollity, the recklessness, the 
gold ounces thrown in handfuls upon the monte- 
table, are things of the past: several houses are 
said to be insolvent, and the dearth of cloth is 
causing actual misery. Palm and ground-nut oil 
enable the agents only to buy provisions ; the 
