“We will trade with coast people,” said Chief Edem.

Mary wrote to the traders and invited them to Okoyong.  She told them to bring dishes, dress goods, mirrors, clocks, and the like to trade for ivory, oil, and bananas and other things in the jungle.

“It is too dangerous to come up-country,” answered the traders.  “We are afraid the native guards on the jungle paths will kill us.”

Mary wrote to good King Eyo, of Duke Town.  She asked him to invite the Okoyong chiefs for a conference.  She promised they would bring jungle goods to trade.

King Eyo invited the chiefs.  They did not want to go.  Mary told them of the interesting things they would see on the coast.  She told them of the good things they could get by trading.  At last they agreed to go.  They collected two canoeloads of bananas, barrels of oil and other jungle crops.  Then the chiefs and warriors came marching down to the river to go to the coast.

“Wait,” said Mary.  “You cannot take those spears and swords and guns along.  You will only get into trouble.  You must leave your swords and spears, your guns and knives at home.”

When Mary said this, many of the natives disappeared into the jungle.  They would not go without their weapons.

“Ma, you make women of us,” argued those who remained.  “Would a man go among strangers without arms?”

“You may not take arms,” said Mary.  “You are not going to war.  You are going for a friendly visit.”

“If we cannot take our swords and guns we will not go.  We will stay home.”

“But you promised and I promised King Eyo that you would come.  Will you go back on your word and make me a liar?”

For two hours they argued with Mary.  The beach filled with natives from the village who wanted to see the chiefs start on their trip.  The chiefs did not want to look like cowards to the people of the village.  At last they took off their swords and gave their guns to their white Ma.  Those who had run away to the jungle came back and decided to go along.

“We do not like this,” said the chiefs, “but we will go.  We will not make you a liar, Ma.”

They got off into their boats.  As one of the boats rowed off, one of the bags shifted.  Mary saw the gleam of flashing swords.

“Stop!” cried Mary.  The rowers stopped.  Mary took the swords and threw them into the river.

“Shame on you,” said Mary.  “I did not think you would try to fool me like that.”  The chiefs said nothing.  They just rowed down the river.

The chiefs who went to Duke Town had a wonderful time.  They went to the church services.  King Eyo Honesty talked with them about the Gospel and what it meant for their lives.  He took them to his house and had a big dinner for them.  They traded the bananas, oil, and other things which they had brought for things to take home like mirrors, clocks, and white people’s clothes.  Then the next day they rowed back to Ekenge.