half an hour to clear the village of all the women, goods, and chattels, explaining that my men were bad, and would probably take anything that he left behind.

In this way I generally succeeded in passing through the country without disturbances with the natives. As soon as we took possession of a village, and such food as was left in it, we started a market and bought whatever more was necessary. This greatly astonished the natives, who always consider that they must feed travellers for nothing, if the said travellers are strong enough to demand it. We generally brought our marketing transactions to a close by scrambling a few handfuls of beads, handkerchiefs, or wire; or by starting races, for which a handkerchief or a small bell, fixed on the top of a tree or a hut, was the prize.