Every time that we left a vessel he reproved me for not begging of the christians, and when I told him that I was not in want of any thing he replied: “That is nothing to the purpose; you should always ask for something. If they give, so much the better; if they refuse, so much the worse. They are infidels, and you should always get as much as you can from them. Do you think that the Musulmans who are here come to see the whites? No such thing; they come to get their Guinea cloth whenever they can. Perhaps you imagine that I am going to St. Louis to see the town, and the christians?” I replied that I concluded he was, as he had expressed a wish to that effect, before we quitted the camp; “Besides,” said I, “what else should you go for?” “What should I go for?” said he, “do not suppose that I go to see the infidels and their country. I go to try if I cannot get some goods out of them, and that you may pay me three or four pieces of Guinea cloth and a gun for my company.” Though I was no stranger to the rapacity of his countrymen, yet this confession really surprised as much as it incensed me. I durst not give vent to my indignation, so I contented myself with saying, that if he had reckoned upon my generosity, he would find himself mistaken, because he had no claim upon it; that I thought myself indebted to his brother, and that he alone should receive the presents which I intended as a return for his kindness. He was disconcerted, and told me that if that was the case he should return to the camp and I might go to St. Louis by myself. I should have been heartily glad to do so; but when he saw me about to embark, he joined me. Before I leave the port, I must give a short sketch of the mode in which the gum trade is carried on. At the appointed time, the government of St. Louis sends a king’s ship to the port under the command of an officer, who is charged with the police of the port, in all that concerns navigation, and the stationing of the different vessels; he is also empowered to decide all disputes with the marabouts and the Moors. The Moorish king on his side sends his plenipotentiaries, who remain at the port to settle the customs[33] and which are to be paid by the merchants. Any difficulties which arise are settled between them and the commander of the vessel on the station. When a merchant ship arrives at the port, she remains at anchor in the middle of the river till the duty is fixed; a point which is seldom settled without a long discussion, for the Moors always persist in the hope of gaining some advantage, though the tax is governed by the tonnage of the vessel; it is often necessary to have recourse to the king to terminate the dispute. It is not till the agreement has been signed that business can be transacted, and the _aloums_ (or Moorish agents) watch on the shore, to see that no gum is taken on board. These same agents watch the vessels when their right to trade is suspended.