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The past few months, Sept/Nov. show C. & Co. to have shipped more ivory from your ports than ever before: 8000 against our 14000. This is a new and unexpected condition to us. It is difficult,we realize, to keep on very good terms with Viseram, but it should be mo more difficult for you than for any other white man. Childs apparently, gets the bulk of his purchases from or through Viseram.

Again, the recent shipment of Chillies in original packages- While you have never packed chillies before this lot, an ordinary man would consider that it was necessary for him to inquire how and what was the usual style of packing for the United States. You have not done so, and you have let us in for considerable trouble, and possibly some loss. The question is now on, so we are hardly able to say how it will come out. Your letter showed that you were doubtful about it. You could have cabled this office, or you might even asked the Zanzibar agent what he knew about it. You did not. You chose to let the goods go on, hoping it would turn out all right. Sometimes this may be necessary. We see nothing in the circumstances regarding this shipment, which made it necessary.

We do not like to write this kind of a letter- we would much rather report full and complete satisfaction with your work, but this would not be fair to ourselves, or in fact to you, if we allowed ourselves to pass over the things which we do not find satisfactory. However, we are hopeful that with experience will come better judgment, an effort on your part to keep on good terms with your fellow-merchants and traders generally, the avoidance of any differences