Thus, to quote his words:"There groweth a manner of fruit as though it were gourdes; and when they be ripe men cut them in two, and men find within a little beast, in flesh, in bone, and bloodas though it were a little lamb withouten wolleand men eat both the fruit and the beast, and that is a great marvel; of that fruit I have eaten although it were wonderful; but that I know well that God is marvellous in His works."

"Eight gourdes.

" "And you will feed me for how much?" "Fifteen gourdes.

The French governor received the Prince and his suite, very well; he caused them to be paid about sixty francs in two sous-pieces; this sum seemed enormous to them; for they were extremely satisfied with it: this gives ground to suppose that they were not acquainted with the value of the gourde, when they demanded eight hundred for the ransom of each of the two travellers.

Mon père, ému, tendit à son housard fidèle Une gourde de rhum qui pendait à sa selle, Et dit:Tiens, donne à boire à ce pauvre blessé.

Bras-Coupé made no objection, was royally worthless for a time, but learned fast, mastered the "gumbo" dialect in a few weeks, and in six months was the most valuable man ever bought for gourde dollars.