a ton. being in a declining state, allowed them to come there on account of a contract, to deliver negroes to them at rol. a head, for a quantity of gum Senegal to be received at 121. This contract continued but a short time, for they foon got into the flave trade for themselves, and veffels were continually paffing and repaffing between Senegal and Albreda with European goods, and African returns for them, which fully proves, that Albreda cannot be claimed as belonging to Goree; fince that ifland, before it was taken in 1758, was fubordinate to Senegal; which is alfo confeffed. on both fides; for before the laft war, the governors of James's fort always infifted upon an exclufive right to trade in Gambia, and it was the custom of the French governor of Albreda, always to ask his permiffion, if he wanted to fend a canoe up the river the river; and it appears alfo by our fending men of war to drive them from thence, as we frequently have done fince the peace, though without any lafting effect; for when our ships arrive, they remove their effects up the country, and leave their mudwall factory to our shot, and failors, who have fometimes landed and destroyed it; but when the men of war quit the river, the French return, repair and refettle. their factory, and as they have no right to complain, take no notice of the injury. Near Cape Roxo or Rouge, which begins the windward coaft, about twelve degrees north latitude, is the river Kafamanza, where small veffels may go up and trade to advantage, and bring off flaves cheap, if they are well armed, and keep a good look out; for they are frequently cut off by the natives on on their return; fpirited up by the fugitive Portugueze, and often by deferters from our own fhips, which inconvenience a method might be pointed out to put a stop to. There is another river adjoining, called the river St. Ann, in which confiderable quantities of rice and fome negroes may be had. About thirty leagues fouth east is Cutcheo, a Portugueze settlement, and twenty-five leagues further on, another called Biffeaux belonging to the fame people, whose indolence makes them rather take a profit for letting others trade, than put themselves to the fatigue of it. There are feveral other small Portugueze fettlements, and one of fome note at Mitomba, a river in Sierra Leon, latitude 8 degrees north. The people, here called Portugueze, are principally perfons bred from a mixture of the firft Portugueze discoverers with the natives, and now become in their complexion, and woolly quality of the hair, perfect negroes, retaining however a smattering of the Portugueze language. In the river Sierra Leon is an English settlement, called Bance island, but under the direction of private persons with exclufive privileges. Some trade is ftill carried on at Sherbro river, where there are the ruins of an English fort. Cape Mount lies nearly in feven degrees north latitude, and terminates the Portugueze trade of Sierra Leon. The negroes on the fouth fide of Cape Mount cannot deal with thofe thofe on the north, as they have a different language, religion and customs. The following places of trade and fome others of less note lie between Cape Mount and Cape Palmas; the river St. Pauls, Cape Menfurado, river Junk, river Seftos and Ceteracrue. Cape Palmas is about twenty leagues to the fouthward of Ceteracrue, where a great plenty of Malaguetta pepper, rice and ivory, may be annually purchased. The grain coast begins at Cape Mount, and ends here. The fea coast between Cape Mount and this place is about fixty leagues, where are negroes in tolerable plenty; the inhabitants are quiet, the inland country unknown to Europeans, as indeed is the whole of the interior parts of Africa, except part of Angola in the hands of the Portugueze. Between this and Cape Lahue are the rivers Cavalle, Durin and the river St. Andrews, where the inhabitants are treacherous, but deal confiderably in flaves and ivory. The Cape Lahue is about thirty leagues to the eastward of St. Andrews, where the Dutch buy great quantities of gold and ivory the negroes are fubject to a fleepy difeafe. ivory coaft begins at the river Cavalle and ends at Cape Lahue. Baffam and Affinee are, the former about twenty leagues, the latter thirty-two to the eastward of Cape Lahue, where good negroes, and large quantities of gold and ivory are purchased by the Dutch; and even the English are obliged to give thofe articles to the Dutch general at Elmina, for Brazil Brazil tobacco, which he illegally monopolizes from the Portugueze, contrary to treaty between the United Provinces and Portugal in 1641. We are now come to Cape Appolonia, which terminates the windward coaft, and may be called the beginning of the Gold coaft, fince the committee have erected a fort there, and have in all between this place and the river Lagos, which terminates the Gold coaft, eleven forts, Cape Appolonia, Dixcove, Succondee, Commenda, Cape Coast Castle, Annamaboe, Tantumquerry, Winnebah, Accra, Prampram and Whidah. This part of the coaft, called the Gold coaft, has been deemed of fuch importance to England, that fince the decline of the African company, the parliament has allowed from ten to thirteen thousand pounds a year for the support of the forts, and added two thousand extra this year. This is entirely under the management of what is called the African committee, but it may be added mistakenly called fo, as by indirect practices the real African traders have no effectual influence in their choice. There are also within this space several Dutch forts and some Danish; the principal Dutch fort is St. George del Mina. The English forts are poorly kept up; but this is reserved for a farther difcuffion, when the conduct of the committee falls under confideration. At Whidah, the English, French and Portugueze, have forts within gun fhot of each other. Jacquin about three leagues to the eastward of Whidah and Eppee about eight leagues, great marts for negroes, gold and Brazil tobacco, are now monopolized by the Dutch. The river Lagos terminates the Gold Coast and begins what is called the Bite, which ends at Cape Lopez. The river Benin is forty leagues east but between them is no place of trade. of the river Lagos, The entrance of the have a river Benin is about half a league wide, but a fhip that draws ten feet water cannot enter; and unless you pilot well acquainted with the place, if your veffel draws above nine feet, it is dangerous to attempt it; and there are jaws? alfo a favage people called Joes, who sometimes attack small veffels: it is faid, that a large fhallop may go from hence to Bonny, new and old Calabar rivers, which are about ninety leagues by fea, to the eastward of the river Benin by an inland navigation, and also to the river Lagos to the weftward, but it has never yet been attempted. Cape Formofa is about fifty leagues S. E. of Benin. All the inland trade goes to Benin and Bonny rivers. New Calabar and Bonny rivers are about thirty leagues to the eastward of Cape Formofa, where large fhips may go in and purchase negroes and ivory. The going in and coming out are both attended with danger. Old Calabar river is about twenty leagues to the eastward of Bonny, where negroes and ivory are purchased and large ships may go in, but the inhabitants, having removed their town from the fhore farther inland, often make exorbitant * See letter (F) in the Appendix. demands |