There was a general feeling of regret that the party had not been more numerous; and some expressions of anger, at the spies on the road by which the traders had come, for not letting them know beforehand, so that they could have placed their whole force there and carried away all the goods.
"These are the things that suit us best," Meinik said to Stanley.
"You see, one can go down with a parcel of cinnamon or pepper, or a bag of dyes, or fifty pounds of cotton into the town; and sell it in the market, at a fair and proper price.

Of course, one dresses one's self as a small cultivator; and there is no suspicion, whatever, that all is not right.
"We shall keep a sharp lookout for the men, as they come back again, and relieve them of the silver or goods they may have taken in exchange; that is, if they come by the same road--but it is more likely that, after their adventure today, they will choose some other, or take a guide and travel by village tracks.

No doubt they think that they have got off easily, for they have not lost more than a quarter of their goods.

It is war time now, and there is no fear of a force being sent against us; but usually we do not take so much as a quarter of the merchandise.

Were they to lose everything, they would make complaints; and then we should have a force sent up against us, and be obliged to move away, for a time.
But as it is, they are so pleased with getting the greater part of their goods safe to market that they do not care to make a fuss about it; for they might have to pay the court officials, and others, more than the value of the goods lost." "They do not often resist, then ?" "Not often.