Mr. Goodenough related their adventures, and said that they were
naturalists in search of objects of natural history. When he had
finished Ostik, in obedience to a whisper from him, brought in
a bottle of brandy, at the sight of which the negro broke into a
chuckle.
"Me tree months widout taste dat. Once ebery year me send down to
coast, get coffee, tea, sugar, calico, beads, and rum. Dis time de
rum am finish too soon. One of de cases get broke and half de bottles
smash. Dat berry bad job. Dis chile calculate dat six dozen last
for a year, dat give him one bottle each week and twenty bottles
for presents to oder chiefs. Eighteen bottles go smash, and as de
oder chiefs expec' deir present all de same, Sam hab ta go widout.
De men start three weeks ago for coast. Me hope dey come back in
six weeks more."
"Well," Mr. Goodenough said, "you need not go without it till they
come back, for I can give you eight bottles which will last you
for two months. I have got a good supply, and as I never use it for
trade unless a chief particularly wants it, I can very well spare
it."
The old negro was greatly pleased, and when he had drank his glass
of brandy and water he responded to Mr.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209