322 THE EXPLORATION OF THE NIGER camp. The bugnul, or negro trader, has his own particular mode of proceeding; he does not expect to be spoken to, everj'thing is done by gesture. The djula, or merchant, crouches on the ground, with his wares spread out in front of him. The buyer passes along, looks at the wares, and offers his cowries or cloth in exchange. If the price is suitable the baiain is concluded, if not the djula .shakes His head, making a sign, signifying " No," and the would-be buyer goes away or squats down himself to await his time. Sometimes the price is lowered, or the purchaser adds a few cowries to his original offer. There is none of the noise usual in European markets, none of the flow of language so characteristic of them. Each party to a bargain tries to tire out the other, but neither of them wastes any words.

The first price asked by a negro is never the same as that