n a familiar
manner, and said with a loud guffaw, "Shake hands, consul. How d'ye do?"
Burton looked steadily at the man for a few moments, and then calling
to his canoe-men said, "Hi, Kroo-boys, just throw this nigger out of
window, will you?" The boys, delighted with the task, seized the black
gentleman by his head and feet, and out of the window he flew. As the
scene was enacted on the ground floor the fall was no great one, but
it was remarked that henceforward the niggers of Fernando Po were less
condescending to the Consul. When night fell and the fire-flies began
to glitter in the orange trees, Burton used to place on the table before
him a bottle of brandy, a box of cigars, and a bowl containing water and
a handkerchief and then write till he was weary; [196] rising now and
again to wet his forehead with the handkerchief or to gaze outside
at the palm plumes, transmuted by the sheen of the moon into lucent
silver--upon a scene that would have baffled the pen even of an Isaiah
or a Virgil.

The captains of ships calling at Sta. Isabel were, it seems, in the
habit of discharging their cargoes swiftly and steaming off again
without losing a moment. As this caused both inconvenience and loss to
the merchants from its allowing insufficient time to read and answer
correspondence, they applied to Burton for remedy. After the next ship
had discharged, its captain walked into the Consulate and exclaimed
off-handedly, "Now, Consul, quick with my papers; I want to be off."
Burton looked up and replied unconcernedly: "I haven't finished my
letters." "Oh d----- your letters," cried the captain, "I can't wait for
them." "Stop a bit," cried Burton, "let's refer to your contract,"
and he unfolded the paper. "According to this, you have to stay here
eighteen hours' daylight, in order to give the merchants an opportunity
of attending to their correspondence." "Yes," followed the captain," but
that rule has never been enforced." "Are you going to stay?" enquired
Burton. "No," replied the captain, with an oath. "Very good," followed
Burton. "Now I am going straight to the governor's and I shall fire two
guns. If you go one minute before the prescribed time expires I shall
send the first shot right across your bows, and the second slap into
you. Good-day." [197] The captain did not venture to test the threat;
and the merchants had henceforth no further trouble under his head.

45. Fans and Gorillas.

During his Consulship,