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Thanks for everyone's help. Finally nailed it!

and why is "shell out for primitive deal" -
cowrie
please?

SWAMP FEVER S[W + (AMP + F)]EVER

COWRIE = shell and was primitively used for trade (money) so you'd "shell out..."

re Cowrie
I can only imagine that cowries were used as money by primitive tribes...anything more subtle than that eludes me :-)

Alex

Cowrie shells were used as currency, mainly in Afica I think.

OK thanks.
Some of them are barely cryptic (like the cowrie one) so I'm not overly-impressed with this crossword.

Sorry, but I like "pure" cryptic clues - not some vague confusing expressions designed to look clever!

Alex -
Personally what I like about the Guardian setters is the mix of cluing styles, whixh can leave you kicking yourself after looking for a cryptic answer to a clever pun, etc

there were some very clever clues in this crossword but it was very difficult to start and without forums like this and answer bank this crossword would never have got going, let alone finished