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.
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