The following is a singular trait in the African character.  Not having any good salt, they sent Pascoe’s wife to the king to request the favour of a little unadulterated salt, because there were such a great quantity of ashes, and other spurious ingredients, mixed up with that which is publicly sold in the markets, that they never could eat it with pleasure.  Both the king and queen embraced the opportunity of admiring the shape and beauty of the salt box, and spoke in rapturous terms of the lustre of its appearance, and the ingenuity of its contrivance.  “Allah! how wonderful,” said they, “even the most trifling articles belonging to the white men, are fit for the use of the mightiest kings.  Alas!  Allah has given them all the glory and riches of the world, and its knowledge, and left none whatever for black men.”

The king was affected!  He thrust the vessel into the pocket of his tobe, smoothed it down with his hand, looked melancholy, and said, “How nicely it fits! what a beautiful thing! how convenient it would be in travelling.”  He then took it out again, turned it round and round, opened and shut it repeatedly, and then bestowing on it a last commendation, as outrageously as any of the former, it was returned filled with genuine salt.  Who could not understand the meaning of all this?  Now this handsome salt cellar was of latten, and was formerly a common round tinder box, and because they had nothing better for the purpose, they deprived it of the candlestick on its cover a short time before, and converted it to its present use.  The tin, moreover, had been burnt off from many parts of it, and Pascoe’s wife not being an admirer of cleanliness, it had lost much of its original brightness.  The king’s encomiums were nothing more than an indirect and ingenious solicitation of the article for his own use; which was further apparent by desiring the woman to relate to the Landers, no part of the conversation that had passed between them:  or in other words, that she should tell them every syllable.  They could not help admiring the delicacy of the king, and sent back the tinder box to him immediately.  The bearer was rewarded handsomely for his trouble, and they received as many thanks, as when he accepted the silver medal and chain which they had presented to him.

It is by such means as this, that the chiefs and rulers of this country, ashamed of making a direct application for any thing in the possession of the travellers, to which they may have taken a fancy, endeavour to obtain it.  If, however, the hint does not succeed in making a visible impression, less delicate measures are presently resorted to, and when every other expedient fails, they cast aside the reserve and bashfulness which had influenced them at first, and express their meaning in language which cannot be misunderstood.  In this respect, the chiefs and governors are all alike, from Badagry to the metropolis of Yaoorie.