a brisk trade in
fire-wood. They sallied forth at cock-crowing in the mornings, and
by daylight reached the uncultivated parts of the adjacent country,
collected a bundle of fire-wood, and returned to the city. It was then
divided into smaller fagots, and sold to the inhabitants; and as they
gave larger quantities than the regular wood-carriers, they found no
difficulty in selling. A ship freighted with coal for the cruisers
having arrived from England, Mr. Gabriel procured them employment in
unloading her at sixpence a day. They continued at this work for upward
of a month, and nothing could exceed their astonishment at the vast
amount of cargo one ship contained. As they themselves always afterward
expressed it, they had labored every day from sunrise to sunset for
a moon and a half, unloading, as quickly as they could, "stones that
burn", and were tired out, still leaving plenty in her. With the money
so obtained they purchased clothing, beads, and other articles to take
back to their own country. Their ideas of the value of different kinds
of goods rather astonished those who had dealt only with natives on the
coast. Hearing it stated with confidence that the Africans preferred the
thinnest fabrics, provided they had gaudy colors and a large extent of
surface, the idea was so new to my experience in the interior that
I dissented, and, in order to show the superior good sense of the
Makololo, took them to the shop of Mr. Schut. When he showed them the
amount of general goods which they might procure at Loanda for a single
tusk, I requested them, without assigning any reason, to point out the
fabrics they prized most. They all at once selected the strongest pieces
of English calico and other cloths, showing that they had regard to
strength without reference to color. I believe that most of the Bechuana
nation would have done the same. But I was assured that the people
near the coast, with whom the Portuguese have to deal, have not so much
regard to durability. This probably arises from calico being the chief
circulating medium; quantity being then of more importance than quality.

During the period of my indisposition, the bishop sent frequently to
make inquiries, and, as soon as I was able to walk, I went to thank him
for his civilities. His whole conversation and conduct showed him to be
a man of great benevolence and kindness of heart. Alluding to my being a
Protestant, he stated that he was a Catholic from convicti