"We must carry the money of Africa," was the reply, "and here it is."
Frank took the sheet of paper the Doctor held in his hand and read aloud to his cousin:
"'Beads of different kinds and colors, put up and labelled, so that the contents of each package can be known at a glance. Every tribe of negroes in Africa has tastes of its own, and beads that find ready circulation in one region are worthless in another.
"'Cotton cloths of different kinds, white, gray, striped, and in all the colors and combinations of the rainbow.
"'Gaudy handkerchiefs, and the gaudier they are the better for purposes of trade. In packing them for transportation they should be placed in the bales with the cloths, which should also be made up in assorted lots, so that when a bale is opened several kinds of goods may be displayed.
"'Pocket-mirrors, copper wire, in rolls and of different sizes; small tools, fish-hooks, cheap watches, brass jewellery, mechanical toys, sleigh-bells, knives, hatchets, and other edged tools that can be easily carried and handled.'"
"Something to amuse the natives is next on the list," the Doctor remarked, as Frank paused for a moment, "and it is often of great advantage to amuse them."
"'A dozen musical boxes of small size, and one large one, playing several tunes,'" continued Frank, reading from the paper.
"I suppose the small ones are for presents," said Fred, "and the large one is to be exhibited on great occasions, when we have company?"
"Exactly so," replied the Doctor; "it will be a convenient means of entertaining savages, especially when we cannot converse with them. You observe that I have included in the list of desirable things a magic-lantern and a telephone, with half a mile of wire and all the apparatus complete. They are easy to carry, and their performances will be as interesting as those of the music-boxes."