30. Of these there is a great variety. The velvet tamarind and common tama- APPENDIX. rind grow pentifully on the island of Bananas. The white tamarinds, being of an indifferent tafte, are much neglected. The brown tamarinds are sweet and highly Tamarinds. esteemed. There is also a hard and infipid fruit resembling a tamarind, eaten by the natives, which they call maffino.

31. Fig-tree. The fruit of this tree, which scarcely exceeds a hazel nut in fize, Fig-tree is agreeable like other figs, but it can hardly be eaten, owing to the number of small infects with which it is commonly filled.

32. Country figs. These in no respect resemble the true figs, except in the number of their gritty feeds. This fruit is of the size of an apple, nearly round, and agreeably tasted, when ripe resembling the European strawberry. The tree is non-defcript; it is found in the best foil in the woods.

33. Hog Plums. These are rather smaller than European Plums, yellow, and Hog-plums. not unpleasant: the natives are very fond of them. The tree, in some respects, refembles the afh.

34. Country plums. Of these there are many kinds, besides those just mention- Country ed. They contain generally one or more kernels. They are commonly of the size plums.

of an hazel nut.

25. These are round and black, acid and acrid; they might certainly be improve- Grapes. ed, but never so as to refemble grapes, for they belong to a genus totally different.

36. This contains an acid fimilar to that of real forrel, but resembles it in no other Sorrel. refpect. The plant is common enough.

37. This is the beft fubftitute for fpinach, if properly dreffed; it grows in clear- Caleloe. ed grounds, and indicates a good foil.

38. A very common plant on hills near the shore. It appears 3 days after being Purflain. fown. It is faid to have been applied to wounds with success.

39. There is a well known and much efteemed fruit of this fort in the W. In- Mammee. dies; but that of S. Leona is of a different fpecies, though no way inferior.

40, 41, 42. Cainito, bumelia and icaco, or pigeon plums, three W. Indian Cainito, &c. fruits. The laft is rather infipid, but improves greatly by cultivation.

43, 44. Antidesma, of the fame tafte with red currants, and mantanka, being alfo Antidefma, tolerably good.

45. The country cherries furpafs all the fruits of S. Leona. A fine nectarine Cherries. is the fruit to which it can best be compared.

46. This has at a distance the appearance of an old apple-tree. A fpecies of it Bread fruit," grows plentifully on the Bullom fhore, and in low and sandy places. The fruit is about the fize of an apple, and when fresh is exceedingly good and nutritious, having almost the fame taste as gingerbread, but it loses much of its flavour when old.

47. This is ftill larger and quite round: there are always two of the fruits united Cream fruit

and

APPENDIX. and hanging at the end of a small branch; when wounded they yield a fine white juice, refembling fugar or the beft milk; the natives are very fond of it.

Malaguetta pepper, &c.

Nutmegs.

Coffee.

Piper Ethio. picum.

Mabeck,

Barreliera,

Tomato,

Cola,

Peruvianbark.

Caftor oil.

Caffia of the

cane.

Dye stuffs, gums.

Cotton.

48. There is a fet of plants, called by the botanifts amomum, all of a spicy nature, and are of 3 divifions. To the 1ft, belong the gingers. To the 2d, grains of paradife, or Malaguetta pepper. The 3d, is called cardamoms. The true ginger grows in the Sufee country, though not yet found in S. Leona. Malaguetta pepper of 4 different forts is found; 1ft, Maboobo, the feeds of which are pretty large, oblong and of an agreeable but weak flavour. 2d, Maffaaba, fmaller than the preceding, but much like it; the pulp in the pod, when fresh, is of a fine acid. 3d, Maffa Amquona, the feeds of which are of the fame nature as the laft, but rather more angular and pungent; the leaves and ftems are endowed with the finest aroma, both in fcent and tafte. 4th, Toffan, the native and true Malaguetta pepper of Africa, and grains of paradife of the fhops. It excels all other kinds in pungency. 49. A new fpecies of nutmeg, different from all others, has been difcovered; but whether it is as good as the common fort, is at this time difficult to ascertain.

50. Coffee trees are found of two different fpecies, both non-defcript; but whe. ther of any ufe is not yet afcertained.

51. A well-known spice, grows on lofty trees, in great abundance on the moun tains. It is ufed both by colonists and natives inftead of black pepper.

52. A fine spice, though not very pungent. The virtue is in the husk, and is ufed by the natives for many medicinal purposes. The tree is high and valuable. 53. A small plant with the same scent as thyme, and might be used for the same purposes.

54. With which the natives feafon their rice, are angular and red. It is thought that Capficums grow wild.

55. Cola is a famous fruit, highly efteemed by the natives, for the fame virtues as the Peruvian bark. It is used for the fame purposes by the Portuguese, who fend fmall veffels along the coaft, to collect all the cola they can get.

56. Of the Peruvian bark a new fort has been discovered, which may perhaps prove as useful as the other. The natives ufe it for the fame purposes.

57. The bush which produces the nuts from which this oil is expreffed, grows every where in S. Leona.

68. The African fpecies is nearly related to that of the W. Indies, and will not, it is thought, be found lefs ufeful.

59. With refpect to dyes, yellow may be extracted from the butter fruit tree, and blue from indigo. Black and red may be obtained from other plants. Gu Copal and gum Senega, the laft ufually fold in the fhops for gum Arabic, are among the chief gums on the coaft.

60. Cotton grows plentifully in S. Leona, as does the filk cotton among other cotton fruits.

61. The

61. The natives use the bark of the mahant for ropes and whips, and the roots of APPENDIX. the famous mangrove for bas in making mats.

Mahant.

62. Common tobacco grows at S. Leona, but the natives do not cultivate it.

MINERALS.

63. No report having been made by the late Mr. Nordenskiold, the Company's mineralogift, the Directors are not prepared to offer any particular specification of the minerals found at S. Leona *.

Tobacco.

NOTE B B. See § 527.

LATE TRANSACTIONS OF THE FRENCH AT S. LEONA.

I cannot better fulfil my promife, of giving the most authentic accounts I could collect of these transactions, than by laying before my readers the following va luable paper which the Swedish Ambaffador has obligingly put into my hands:

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Adam Afzelius to His Excellency the Chevalier von ENGESTROM, the Swedish Ambassador in London, dated Sierra Leona, 15th November, 1794.

from its

804. "The English Colony at S. Leona had, like all other new Colonies, in the beginning, great difficulties to overcome. But, before the end of two years first institution, order and industry had begun to fhew their effects in an increafing prosperity. A new town had been laid out, with regular streets and a little garden belonging to each house.—The woods had been cut down to the distance of about half a Swedish mile (3 English miles) all round the town--By this means the climate had become healthier, and fickness had diminifhed.The fame of our colony had spread not only along the whole western coast of Africa, but also to parts far diftant from the coaft; and we have had embaffies from kings and princes, feveral hundred miles diftant, with the view of acquiring a better knowledge of us, and of obtaining our friendship.-They began to fend their children to us, with full confidence, to be brought up in the christian religion.-In short, we were externally respected and internally happy.-For my own part, I could never wish for a better fituation.-I had every comfort I wanted.-I was in good health and fpirits. I fat at the table of the governor himself, who treated me with liberality and kindness. I had a houfe of my own, which was large enough to contain fpecimens of all the natural treasures of this coaft.-It was furrounded by a fine garden, in which I had myself planted the scarceft plants, and the most beautiful aro

* Mr. Nordenskiold arrived at S. Leona in May, 1792, and died in the Sept. following, having been ill during most of the time. (See § 714, et seq.)

Profperity of the colony be fore it was at

tacked by the

French.

APPENDIX. matic and odoriferous flowers, which delightfully recompenfed my pains.-I had alfo many living animals, including about 30 birds in cages and fmall houfes.--Natural curiofities poured into my collection from all quarters; and these I fent from time to time, as opportunity offered, to a friend in London, to be kept for me till my return. The laft opportunity I had to fend any thing was the 4th of Aug.-I then began a fresh collection, which, before the expiration of 2 months, was more valuable than what I had got together 3 months before, or from the time of my laft return to S. Leona.

Colony attacked by a French fquadron.

After fome firing, the co

805. "But all these treasures are no more. Our felicity and prosperity are vanifhed, and have given place to mifery and want.-I myself have largely participated in the common calamity. My own feparate and individual lofs is irreparable. The French have been here and have ruined us.-They arrived on the 28th of Sept. laft, early in the morning, with a fleet confifling of one large fhip, 2 frigates, 2 armed brigs and one cutter, together with two large armed merchant fhips, taken by them at the Isles de Lofs, an English slave factory to the N, of our colony, and which they have also destroyed and burnt,

806. "So well had they concealed their nation, that we took them at first for Jony fubmits. English.-They had English built vessels, which were rigged in the English way. -They fhewed the English flag, and had their failors, at least those we saw on deck, dreffed like English.-In fhort we did not perceive our mistake, till we obferved them pointing their guns. We had not ftrength fufficient to refift, and therefore our governor gave orders, that as foon as they should begin to fire, the British flag fhould be ftruck, and a flag of truce hoifted.-Accordingly this was done, but ftill they continued firing, and did much damage, both within and without the town. They killed 2 people and wounded 3 or 4.-But, as we did not understand the meaning of this proceeding, we asked them for an explanation; and they answered us that we should display the flag of liberty, as a proof of our sub. miffion. We affured them that it fhould already have been done, if we had had any, which terminated the hoftilities from the fhips.

Most of the colonifts fled.

807. "In the mean time, moft of the inhabitants had fled from the town, hav ing taken with them as much of their property as they conveniently could, in fuch a hurry. I was with the governor, together with a number of others, but as soon as I was certain they were enemies, I went towards my own house, with a view to fave as much as poffible of my property and natural collections; but was receiv ed in such manner, that I could not venture to proceed.-My house was situated near the shore, and unfortunately just oppofite the frigate which fired.-I saw the balls paffing through the house and heard them whizzing about my ears.-I faw that I should loose all my property; but life was dearer to me, and I haftened to the woods.

808. "In

808. "In the afternoon the enemy landed, finding the town almoft deftitute of APPENDIX, people, but rich in provisions, cloathing and other ftores. They began immediately to break open the houfes and to plunder. What they did not want, they deftroy. The colony plundered, &c. ed, burnt or threw into the river. They killed all the cattle and animals they found in the fields or ftrcets, yards or elsewhere, not fparing even affes, dogs and cats. Thefe proceedings they continued the whole fucceeding week, till they had intirely ruined our beautiful and profpering colony.

809. "When I returned to the town, I found my houfe converted into a melancholy guard-house. My principal property, fuch as money, cloaths, my very va luable inftruments, and most of my furniture, were either carried off, or broken to pieces. According to bills and accounts, which I have ftill left, this lofs amounts to very near £300 fter. The reft, which was of no value or use to the enemy, but on which I myself put a just and great value, I had the mortification to find fo totally destroyed, that the fight almoft drew tears from my eyes. My neat and beautiful little garden, I found intirely ruined, the trees cut down and the plants pulled up by the roots. My living animals and birds were partly eaten and partly thrown out of doors, with their heads cut off. My library and collection of animals, fruits and flowers preserved in fpirits of wine; of birds, infects, shells, herbarium, fruits and feeds, together with all my manufcripts; all were thrown down and spread over the whole floor, where they were all mixed with offals of victuals, treacle, rum, beer and other things of the kind. At laft I received leave from the commodore to clear away this dirty mixture. I had then the floor fwept, and collected what was not wholly spoiled in 3 bags, which now contain all the miferable remnants of my property, except the cloaths on my back. When the enemy found nothing more worth plundering, they fet fire to the public buildings and all the houses belonging to Europeans; and confequently to mine among the rest. About 24

houses, great and small, were thus deftroyed, and 9 or 10 houses of the colonists were alfo burnt, by mistake.

Mr. Afzeli.

us's toiles.

810. "In the mean time, the enemy were not lefs active on the water. They Prizes taken. sent three of there veffels to Bance ifland, an English flave-factory higher up the river, which they plundered and burnt, together with fome flave fhips lying there. They took besides about 10 or 12 prizes, including the Company's veffels. Most of these they unloaded and burnt. They took along with them also 2 of our armed vessels, one of which was a large ship, laden with provifions, and which had been long expected; but she unfortunately arrived a few days too foon, and was taken with her whole cargo. We expected at leaft to receive our private letters, but even this was refused, and they were thrown over board. What hardship is this to me, who have not had the smallest information from my patrons and friends, fince I was in England 8 months ago?