The African Trader | Page 6

fringed by an unbroken
line of sparkling surf. Now we could make out the mud walls and
thatched roofs of the native villages, scattered here and there along the
shore, mostly nestling amid groves of graceful cocoa-nut trees, while
further inland appeared, at distant intervals, that giant monarch of the
tropical forest, the silk cotton tree, stretching its mighty limbs upwards
towards the sky, and far and wide around. Such was my first view of
the African coast.
"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Captain Willis.
"It looks better than I expected," I said. "But I don't see how we are
ever to reach it, much less carry on any trade with the people. How can
we possibly send any goods on shore?"
"You will see presently," he answered. "We have hoisted our trading
signal, and before long we shall have plenty of dealers along side
unless some other vessel has been before us; if so, we may have to wait
some days till the black merchants can bring more goods down from
the interior. The people about here are imbued with the very spirit of
commerce. They understand too how to make a sharp bargain. We have
to be wide awake, or, naked savages as they are, they will contrive to
outwit us."
Our various assortments of cotton and other goods had been got up
from the hold ready for the expected trade. The captain had also taken
out from his strong box a supply of sovereigns and Spanish dollars,
should coin be demanded, though he relied chiefly on the more
advantageous proceeding of barter.

After standing off and on the coast for some hours, we perceived
several large canoes about to be launched. On either side of each canoe
stood a dozen or fifteen men, holding to the gunwale with one hand,
and carrying a paddle in the other. At a signal from their head man the
canoe was hurried into the foaming surf; but, instead of getting in, they
swam by her side, guiding her course, until the first heavy swell was
past, then they threw themselves simultaneously into her, and began to
paddle with might and main till they got beyond the outer swell, and on
they came, shouting with satisfaction at the success of their enterprise.
Two got off without accident; but three others, when in the very midst
of the breakers, were swamped, and I thought that their crews, and, at
all events, their cargoes, would be lost. But no such thing. As I watched
them through the glass I saw that they were all holding on to the
gunwale, shoving her from side to side, until the water was thrown out,
when in they got again, and began to gather up numerous articles
floating around them. This accomplished, off they came as if nothing
had happened. As they got alongside I discovered the reason why their
effects did not sink--some were casks of palm oil, which naturally
floated, while the elephants' tusks and other pieces of ivory, were
fastened to large floats of cork-wood, and several of the men had small
light wooden boxes, which contained gold-dust, secured to their waists.
Though these were of a weight sufficient greatly to incumber, if not to
sink, an ordinary swimmer, so expert were, they in the water that they
appeared in no way to be inconvenienced. Several of them recognised
Captain Willis, who had frequently before been off the coast, and
having been fairly dealt with by him, and aware that he knew the price
they would be ready to take, gave him very little trouble. Some,
however, tried to outwit him, but he was very firm with them, and let
them understand that he was indifferent to trading except on equitable
terms. Altogether he was well satisfied with the result of his first day's
business.
We stood off the coast before the sea breeze died away, and returned
again on the following morning. This sort of work we continued for
several days. It was, however, a very tedious mode of proceeding. At
length we found that the amount of produce, brought off from day to
day, rapidly diminishing, while the natives began to demand higher

prices than at first. We accordingly stood down the coast towards
another native town, with the inhabitants of which we began to trade in
the same way as before.
From the time we first came into these latitudes we kept a bright
look-out night and day. I asked old Radforth what was the use of doing
this when we were engaged in a lawful commerce, which must of
necessity prove an advantage to the negroes. "Why, you see, Harry,
there are other gentry visit this coast with a very different object in
view," he answered. "For the Spaniards and