Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-12-04
Mltstell0ueolls.
Negro Merchants in Africa.

Negro Merchants in Africa.
From little volume Just published (savs The
EUentng POST in London, entitled "Trade and
Travels in the Gulf of Guinea, Western Africa"
The author, Mr.. ]. Smith, " having made several
voyages to Western Africa, in the double capa-
city of surgeon and trading captain las the AZ
ricans style the agents of European merchants)
to one of the first mercantile houses in England
and having been repeatedly brought in con-
tact with great number of the inhabitants on
several occasions fur many consecutive months
has acquired" he thinks, " some information,
and witnessed some extraordinary scenes" wor-
thy of being related to the English public.
The following is an interesting sketch of the
manner in which trade Is carried on between
European ships and the Negroes of the African
coast. 1t certainly puts the Negroes in more
respectable light as mercantile men than we
have seen them ever represented in before.1
THE GUINEA CREDIT SYSTEM
Few things astonish a white man so much
on first visit to this place, on trading expe-
dition, as the amount of goods solicited by and
entrusted TO This people. With the utmost con-
fdence a fellow nearly naked will ask you for
three or four, or even five thousand pounds
worth of goods on credit, and individuals are
often trusted to that amount | have trusted
more than one man goods, the returns of which
we're worth between two and three thousand
pounds Not one in ten, however, that ask for
trust is worthy OF credit to the amount of so
many faithings. Some few of the chiefs are
really splendid merchants. Hard in making
their bargains, but strict in their payments, they
approach very near in their commercial trans
actions to their brethren of Europe and the CIV
lized parts of Asia and America. And they go
about their business in buslness-llk manner.
Capt or b. chief will say, Il want 8 0me
trust Ifyou know that in the commercial sense
of the word your customer is good man, you
will perhaps ask him when he means to pay
you for any goods he may purchase, and what
are bis resources and he is sure to preface
anything he may have to say by asking, if he
has not good head and knows how TO turn any
goods with which you may entrust him to good
account; and if he has not good name among
white men, and if he does not always meet his
payments.
&" Having admitted all that he says of himself
to be true, he will inform you that he has SO
many canoes and so many slaves to man them,
that he has several clever slaves to take COM
mand of the canoes and trade the goods in the
interior, and that the only thing he wants IS
money goods to send to market. Trusting to
any great amount, or even at all, depends en-
tirey upon circumstances. II a trader have a
good name and large house, that is, numerous
wives and slaves-pretty good crteria of his
wealth-he may be trusted. But some of the
young aspirants to commercial fame may as
safely be trusted as great chiefs. To acquire
wealth, he knows he must cultivate good name
which makes him attentive TO business and
prompt in his payments. These men are easier
to treat with than the weather. merchants.
Everything being prepared for the reception OF
goods, trade commences, every one being anx-
ous to obtained goods on credit. If it be the
first time you trade ship, the chiefs and small
traders approach the subject cautiously. They
will apprlse you OF their great wealth and i'm
J portance and the large amount of business they
did when you were captain, surgeon, or clerk OF
such and such ship; how well they paid their
:, debts without detaininlng the ship single day
d the rascals perhaps never paid at all-what very
good friends you used to be; ; perhaps ask ho"
" the parrot or monkey is they presented you on a
e previous voyage insinuate that they knew you
N would bring ship to trade that voyage, you are
L sach clever fellow, and 'savvy black mans
Y ioshion, and have told their women and boys So
SO Alter long paaver to this effect, they ash
you 10 trust them; you hesitate, they feel Ger
T. tam oil success, and ask for large amount, foul
a 'imei more than they know you will let them
at hOve' supPoslng that after asking so large an
is amount you will never refuse them consider.
al aole quantity The goods beinp examined
he bargain struck, and book signed TO the effec
"a 'hat ii you are not paid at certain time the,
to shall make certain forfets, and tho 0ood, bo;n,
'e' paid to them, they go away in great plee T.