Thus, A Certain Quantity Of Goods, Of Whatever
Denomination, Appearing To Be Equal In Value To A Bar Of Iron,
Constituted, In The Traders' Phraseology, A Bar Of That Particular
Merchandise.
Twenty leaves of tobacco, for instance, were
considered as a bar of tobacco; and a gallon of spirits (or rather
half spirits and half water) as a bar of rum, a bar of one commodity
being reckoned equal in value to a bar of another commodity.
As, however, it must unavoidably happen that, according to the
plenty or scarcity of goods at market in proportion to the demand,
the relative value would be subject to continual fluctuation,
greater precision has been found necessary; and at this time the
current value of a single bar of any kind is fixed by the whites at
two shillings sterling. Thus, a slave whose price is 15 pounds, is
said to be worth 150 bars.
In transactions of this nature it is obvious that the white trader
has infinitely the advantage over the African, whom, therefore, it
is difficult to satisfy, for conscious of his own ignorance, he
naturally becomes exceedingly suspicious and wavering; and, indeed,
so very unsettled and jealous are the negroes in their dealings with
the whites, that a bargain is never considered by the European as
concluded until the purchase money is paid and the party has taken
leave.
Having now brought together such general observations on the country
and its inhabitants as occurred to me during my residence in the
vicinity of the Gambia, I shall detain the reader no longer with
introductory matter, but proceed, in the next chapter, to a regular
detail of the incidents which happened, and the reflections which
arose in my mind, in the course of my painful and perilous journey,
from its commencement until my return to the Gambia.
CHAPTER III - THE KINGDOM OF WOOLLI - JOURNEY TO BONDOU
On the 2nd of December, 1795, I took my departure from the
hospitable mansion of Dr. Laidley. I was fortunately provided with
a negro servant who spoke both the English and Mandingo tongues.
His name was Johnson. He was a native of this part of Africa, and
having in his youth been conveyed to Jamaica as a slave, he had been
made free, and taken to England by his master, where he had resided
many years, and at length found his way back to his native country.
As he was known to Dr. Laidley, the Doctor recommended him to me,
and I hired him as my interpreter, at the rate of ten bars monthly
to be paid to himself, and five bars a month to be paid to his wife
during his absence. Dr. Laidley furthermore provided me with a
negro boy of his own, named Demba, a sprightly youth, who, besides
Mandingo, spoke the language of the Serawoollies, an inland people
(of whom mention will hereafter be made) residing on the banks of
the Senegal; and to induce him to behave well, the Doctor promised
him his freedom on his return, in case I should report favourably of
his fidelity and services. I was furnished with a horse for myself
(a small but very hardy and spirited beast, which cost me to the
value of 7 pounds 10s), and two asses for my interpreter and
servant. My baggage was light, consisting chiefly of provisions for
two days; a small assortment of beads, amber, and tobacco, for the
purchase of a fresh supply as I proceeded; a few changes of linen,
and other necessary apparel; an umbrella, a pocket sextant, a
magnetic compass, and a thermometer; together with two fowling-
pieces, two pair of pistols, and some other small articles.
A free man (a bashreen, or Mohammedan) named Madiboo, who was
travelling to the kingdom of Bambara, and two slatees, or slave
merchants, of the Serawoolli nation, and of the same sect, who were
going to Bondou, offered their services, as far as they intended
respectively to proceed, as did likewise a negro named Tami (also a
Mohammedan), a native of Kasson, who had been employed some years by
Dr. Laidley as a blacksmith, and was returning to his native country
with the savings of his labours. All these men travelled on foot,
driving their asses before them.
Thus I had no less than six attendants, all of whom had been taught
to regard me with great respect, and to consider that their safe
return hereafter to the countries on the Gambia would depend on my
preservation.
Dr. Laidley himself, and Messrs. Ainsley, with a number of their
domestics, kindly determined to accompany me the first two days; and
I believe they secretly thought they should never see me afterwards.
We reached Jindey the same day, having crossed the Walli creek, a
branch of the Gambia, and rested at the house of a black woman, who
had formerly been the paramour of a white trader named Hewett, and
who, in consequence thereof, was called, by way of distinction,
seniora. In the evening we walked out to see an adjoining village,
belonging to a slatee named Jemaffoo Momadoo, the richest of all the
Gambia traders. We found him at home, and he thought so highly of
the honour done him by this visit, that he presented us with a fine
bullock, which was immediately killed, and part of it dressed for
our evening's repast.
The negroes do not go to supper till late, and, in order to amuse
ourselves while our beef was preparing, a Mandingo was desired to
relate some diverting stories, in listening to which, and smoking
tobacco, we spent three hours. These stories bear some resemblance
to those in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, but, in general, are
of a more ludicrous cast.
About one o'clock in the afternoon of the 3rd of December, I took my
leave of Dr. Laidley and Messrs. Ainsley, and rode slowly into the
woods. I had now before me a boundless forest, and a country, the
inhabitants of which were strangers to civilised life, and to most
of whom a white man was the object of curiosity or plunder.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 7 of 45
Words from 6170 to 7191
of 45803
