rs did not ship orchids.

It was Boville's employment henceforth to collect the Bulbophyllum
whenever he had a few hours to spare. He hung his spoils on the lattice
work which surrounds a bedroom in those parts, between roof and wall,
designed for ventilation--hiding them with clothes and things. It is
proper to add that the 'English Fort' was already deserted, and the
'Factory' a mere name. The agent, his superior officer, was not at all
likely to visit a clerk's quarters. This good man belonged to a class very
frequent then upon 'the coast.' He had not returned to England, nor wished
to do so, since coming out. At a glance he recognised that this was his
real native land, and without difficulty he made himself a
fellow-countryman of the negroes, living like a caboceer, amidst an
undeterminate number of wives, slaves, and children. Very shocking; but it
may be pointed out that such men as this established our colonies or seats
of trade in Africa. They had virtues, perhaps, but their vices were more
useful. The moral system of the present day would not have answered then.
An agent secured his position by marrying a daughter of every chief who
might be troublesome. He had no Maxim guns.

Mr. Blank knew every feeling and superstition of the negroes,--that is the
point of my reference to his character. And one evening he entered the
room just as Boville was hanging up his latest acquisitions, some of which
were in flower. Whatever Mr. Blank's business, it fled from his mind on
beholding the orchids.

'Good God!' he cried. 'What--what--you are no better than a dead man! I
won't protect you--I can't! Good God! What possessed you?'

'I don't understand,' said Boville.

'No, you don't understand! They send me out the most infernal idiots'--and
then Mr. Blank fell to swearing.

Boville saw the case was grave somehow. 'Are they poisonous?' he asked.

'Poisonous be--etc. etc. That's the Endua--the holiest of plants! You'll
wish they were poisonous before long! What a lot! You didn't get 'em all
to-day?'

'I can destroy them. Only Georgius Rex the Krooman has been into the bush
with me.'

'You fool! D'you think you can hide this from the fetich? Put--put 'em in
a sack, and tumble 'em into the river after dark! Oh Lord, here's an awful
business!'

Moving about the room restlessly as he talked, whilst Boville thrust the
orchids into a bag, the agent opened a door which gave upon a platform
called the verandah--in fact, t