Captain Adam soon found that the question of the oil stood in the way of his being able to effect his object of setting up a communication for the exchange of merchandize and agricultural produce between the Srimats and the rest of the world. One of the old chiefs, to whom he broached the subject, pointed out, with much gravity, that his project was impracticable. "Two-thirds of our people," he said, "are occupied in our most important industry, the making of palm oil; the other third work hard to provide enough food and raiment for us all. We can only just produce enough to maintain the tribe in decency and comfort; we have no surplus that we could exchange for the products of other lands."
"Your soil must be very fertile," replied Captain Adam, "and your people very industrious and very skilful workmen if one-third of the tribe is able to produce all that is required by the whole Srimat population."
"Yes, yes; it is true," said the old man. "We have much to be thankful for." And he gazed upwards to the bad-smelling palm-oil
