[12] "So-so san'-san' lef' no mo'," i.e. merely sand was left, nothing more. The fire kindled by the terrible combat had consumed everything combustible. This is a characteristic African hyperbole. See also the much exaggerated statement of the space covered by the combat, and of the size of the cup that each animal was required to empty at one draught.
[13] "Do," often accompanied by a low cringing inclination of the body and clasped hands, is a very strong form of entreaty.
[14] The use of America and England, in the comparison, comes from the vaguest possible conception of those countries, derived in this instance, it may be supposed, from information picked up by Sobah during his visits to Freetown. The series, America, England and Freetown, is intended to form a climax.
[15] This is a characteristic circumlocution. It means that the goat is not scratching, but is swimming, as he did a long time ago.
[16] "He no bin 'tan' lek," i.e. Did not stand like, did not appear as he does.
[17] "He gie um four, four," i.e. He gave four to each.
[18] To better insure their safety against invading tribes, the people live in villages, often mud-walled, and go at day-break to their farms, where a hut, or a thatched roof supported by poles, serves as temporary abode and shelter. In order to indulge undisturbed his inordinate appetite, Spider plans to be left alone at night upon his farm, when the other members of the household return to the village.
[19] "He no 'tay agin," i.e., It did not stay, was a short time.
[20] The country-fashion man is a sort of African seer, who seats himself upon the ground, spreads a white cloth in front of him, throws upon it small stones and bits of various things, and in some way from these makes his predictions, fumbling in an apparently aimless way, and muttering to himself, or to the spirits of darkness with which he claims to be in communion. This is about as much as the uninitiated and curious can learn in regard to "Looking the ground."
[21] The wax referred to exudes from a tree called by the natives "chockooh." It is very tenacious.