Whatever time of the day you enter, you are sure to find three or four people with a yard of cane in one hand, a knife in the other, and a basket between their legs, hacking, paring, chewing, and basket-filling, with a persevering assiduity which reminds one of a hungry cow grazing, or of a caterpillar eating up a leaf.
After five days' absence the boats returned from Dobbo, bringing Ali and all the things I had sent for quite safe.

A large party had assembled to be ready to carry home the goods brought, among which were a good many cocoa-nut, which are a great luxury here.

It seems strange that they should never plant them; but the reason simply is, that they cannot bring their hearts to bury a good nut for the prospective advantage of a crop twelve years hence.

There is also the chance of the fruits being dug up and eaten unless watched night and day.

Among the things I had sent for was a box of arrack, and I was now of course besieged with requests for a little drop.