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tant from navigation, that it appears to me very inconvenient for commerce *. APPENDIX. But, for the reft, I have good reason to think, that the foil, air and water are all very good. There are but few Europeans; but they were in the best ftate of health, during my flay among them. Mr. Flint, who till the arrival of Lieut. Col. von Rohrs, takes care of this infant colony, has established another fimilar one at the foot of the mountains, nearer to Acra; and I faw growing at both places, a confiderable quantity of cotton-trees and maize, all of which flourished and throve very well. The dry and wet seasons are not so diftin&t at Aquapim, as near the coaft; for rains fall there in all the other months of the year, as well as in the rainy feafon.

942. "I obferved that, near the Danifh forts at Rio Volta, Printzenftein and Quitta, the commanders of those places and a certain merchant have begun to plant cotton, fugar-canes, different kinds of garden ftuffs, fuch as greens, fweat peas, &c. 943. "In the the neighbourhood of Christiansburg, at Acra, an old, respectable negro, a native of Dunco, at a confiderable distance up in the interior part, has established himself on a folitary spot, and has planted large fields with cotton, maize and various kinds of provifions and garden stuffs. By his intelligent and laborious cultivation, he has distinguished himself so much, that he is now come into great repute. He raises fuch quantities of provisions, that he supplies not only Chrif tiansburg, but also most of the neighbouring negro villages.

944. "The fhip, in which my worthy colleague and myself returned to Europe, being loft, together with all our papers, we with fome difficulty reached Ireland; a circumstance which will fufficiently account for our not being able to fulfil our own wifhes by fatisfying all your enquiries.

London, 25th March, 1795.

"I am, &c.

"H. MOE."

945. I have only to add a circumftance, which M. Moe told me, but which he has forgotten to mention in the above letter, namely, That Mr. Flint's fifter, with the fame zeal for the civilization of Africa, by which Mrs. Dubois has done fo much honour to the fex (§ 782,) has accompanied her brother to Aquapim, with a view to inftruct the negro women in needle-work, fpinning cotton and other parts of female industry; and that she has already made very confiderable progress in this laudable and benevolent undertaking.

* The reader may suppose that I am not very much concerned at this circumftance, which I think rather in favour of a new and innocent colony.

Documents,

APPENDIX.

C. Mefurado affords good fupplies for shipping.

Anchorage good.

The king's reception of of Chev. Des Marchais.

C. Mefurado defcribed,

alfo the river.

Documents, &c. refpecting the Swedish colonial Defign.

No. 1.

See § 605. Defcription of Cape Mefurado.

Abridgment of the Chevalier Des Marchais' Defcription of Cape Mefurado, from the Account of his Voyages to Guinea and Cayenne, A. D. 1725, 1726, and 1727, by Order of the French Government. See Labat's Collection, Vol. I. page 93, et feq. Paris, 1746.

916. Almoft every veffel, after leaving Cape Mount, touches at Cape Mefurado. They are obliged to call at this laft Cape, for wood and water, to ferve them while they remain at the factory at Whidah, where the water is indifferent, and difficult of accefs. Another reafon is, that the natives at Whidah, looking upon trees of every kind, as a fpecies of divinities, will neither cut them down themselves, nor allow other people to do it. In the third place, rice, maize, or Indian corn, fowls, fheep, goats, and even oxen, are in greater plenty at Mefurado, than at Whidah.

947. The course from C. Mount to C. Mefurado, is S. E. and, when the wind is unfavourable, E. S. the distance 18 leagues. The coaft is clear, and the anchorage every where good. If the wind be contrary, it will be proper to anchor : if there be a calm, for security against the currents, you must also come to, and wait for the land breezes in the night, which are generally fair. The author had his patience exercised in this short paffage, which, though often made in 6 hours, cost him 6 days; and, unless he had anchored, the contrary winds and currents would have carried him back. On the 9th Dec. 1724, he anchored half a league from C. Mefurado, in 11 fathoms, muddy bottom, mixed with fand and broken fhells.

948. A canoe immediately came off to him. He was heartily welcomed by the natives, who had long known and esteemed him. The king being informed of his arrival, fent the Grand Marabou to invite him on fhore, and accordingly he landed the next morning. The king, who was waiting at the river side, embraced him very cordially, and gave him the best reception, of which the princes in that country are capable. The king ordered water, wood and provifions to be carried on board. The cattle, fheep, goats, and fowls, are abundant.

949. C. Mefurado is a detached mountain, fleep and high towards the fea; but lefs fo on the land fide. The fummit forms a level plain, the foil of which is better than what is generally found in fuch fituations. On the east is an extensive bay, bordered by a good and uniform foil, which is bounded by hills of a moderate elevation, covered with large trees. On the weft is another great bay, which receives the river Mefurado.

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950. The Cape points to the S. E. It's lat. is 6° 34′ N. long. 5° 37′ from the meridian of Tenerife. On the east, a long spit of land separates the sea from a ba

fon,

fon, (flaque d'eau,) formed by the R. Mefurado, and a smaller one which joins it. APPENDIX. They navigate this last in their canoes, 6 or 7 leagues at low water, and double the distance at high water. The water is always falt, or at least brackish; but it is full of fish. The course of the great River (Mefurado) is N. W. for 17 or 18 leagues, afterwards N. E. but it's length is unknown. They called for one of his subjects, who affured the Chev. Des Marchais, that he had gone up this river in his canoe, for 3 moons, when he came to a great river, whence it proceeded, which runs from E. to W. on which there are rich and powerful nations, who drive a great trade in gold, ivory, and flaves. The Mefurado runs through fine countries; but is fo rapid, that those who have laboured 3 months in afcending it, may return in 18 days. The negroes call the rich country, where their river originates, Alam, that is, the country of gold.

Chev. an if

951. In the great bafon (flaque d'eau) juft mentioned, are two islands, a small The king one at the mouth of the little river, and a larger at that of the great river. This laft gives the is called the king's island, though he never refides there; but fome of his flaves raise land, and preffes him to cattle and poultry on it, for his use. The king gave this ifland to the Chev. and ve- fettle on it. ry much preffed him to fettle on it. It is never overflowed, even by the great annual inundations, which, as in the Niger, take place in July, Aug. and Sep. This island is 2 leagues long, and 3 of a league broad. It's foil is excellent, as appears from the fize and height of the trees, which alfo evince it's depth. The winds which blow without intermiffion, from the N. the E. and N. E. render it's air very temperate. The only inconvenience it labours under, is the want of fresh water, which must be brought from the fprings on the continent. But these are at no great diftance, and are very abundant.

water.

952. The tide flows 20 leagues up the Mefurado, at the equinoxes, and 8 or 9, Tide and during the rest of the year. In July, Aug. and Sep. the water is brackish only 3 leagues up, owing to the rapidity of the ftream in these months; but 4, or 5 leagues up, the water is perfectly fweet.

trufted, French

953. The king who reigned in 1724, was called Captain Peter, a name which has The king calllong been common to the kings of Mefurado. When dealing with the Dutch ed Capt. Peter. and English, both parties take every precaution against roguery. They are armed, Dutch and hoftages are exchanged, and mutual caution is obferved.-The French, on the con- English dif trary, trade there, without the leaft fufpicion. They put themselves in their power, beloved. go on board their fhips without fear, and, on all occafions, manifeft the most friendly difpofitions towards them. The French deal with them as with old and faithful friends, go on fhore unarmed, commit their perfons and effects to their discretion, and never had any reason to repent of this confidence.

954. The religion of the natives of Mefurado is a kind of idolatry, ill understood, Natives not and blended with a number of fuperftitions, to which, however few of them are bi- bigoted. goted. They eafily change the object of their worship, and confider their Fetishes

only

Country po

pulous, be

APPENDIX. only as a kind of household furniture. The fun is the most general object of their adoration; but it is a voluntary worship, and attended with no magnificent ceremonies. 955. In the space of a few leagues, are many large villages, fwarming with childThey practise polygamy, and their women are very prolific. Besides, as those people deal no farther in slaves, than by felling their convicted criminals to the Europeans, the country is not depopulated like those in which the princes conti nually traffic in their subjects. The purity of the air, the goodness of the water, and the abundance of every neceffary of life, all contribute to people this country.

cause there is little flave trade.

Character of

the natives.

Their houfes.

Their women,

and mothers.

ren.

956. The natives are of a large fize, ftrong and well proportioned. Their mien is bold and martial; and their neighbours have often experienced their intrepidity, as well as thofe Europeans who attempted to injure them. They poffefs genius, think juftly, speak correctly, perfectly know their own interests, and, like their ancient friends the Normans, recommend themselves with address, and even with politeness. Their lands are carefully cultivated, they do every thing with order and regularity, and they labour vigorously when they chufe, which, unfortunately, is not fo often as could be wifhed. Intereft ftimulates them ftrongly; and they are fond of gain, without appearing fo. Their friendship is conftant; yet their friends muf beware of making free with their wives, of whom they are very jealous. But they are not fo delicate with respect to their daughters, who have an unbounded liberty, which is so far from impeding their marriage, that a man is pleased at finding that a woman has given proofs of fertility, especially as the presents of her lovers make fome amends for that which he is obliged to give her parents, when he marries her. They tenderly love their children; and a fure and quick way to gain their friendship, is to caress their little ones, and to make them trifling presents.

957. Their houses are very neat. Their kitchens are somewhat elevated above the ground, and of a square or oblong figure; three fides are walled up, and the fourth fide is left open, being that from which the wind does not commonly blow. They place their pots in a row, and cement them together with a kind of fat, red clay, which, without any mixture of lime, makes a strong and durable morter. Their bed-chambers are raised three feet above the ground. This would feem to indicate that the country is marfhy, or fometimes inundated. But this is by no means the cafe. The foil is dry, and they take care to build their houses beyond the reach of the greatest floods. But experience hath taught them, that this elevation contributes to health, by fecuring them from the damps caused by the copious dews, in houses not fo elevated.

958. The women work in the fields, and kindly affift one another. They bring good wives up their children with great care, and have no other object than to please their hufbands. What a noble example to those who are inclined to follow it.-Why shall we be obliged to contemplate this at such a distance? Why traverse the ocean to find it?

APPENDIX.

959. The extent of King Peter's dominions, towards the N. and N. E. is not well known; but, from the number of his troops, there is reafon to believe it confiderable. The eaftern boundary is the river Junco, about 20 leagues from Cape king's terriMefurado, and the western is a little river about half way from Cape Mount.

Extent of the

tory.

abundant.

960. The whole country is extremely fertile. The natives have gold among Produce them; but whether found in this country, or brought thither in the course of trade, is not precisely known. The country produces fine red wood, and a variety of other beautiful and valuable woods. Sugar-canes, indigo, and cotton, grow without cultivation. The tobacco would be excellent, if the negroes were fkilful in curing it. Elephants, and confequently ivory, are more numerous than the natives wish; for those cumbrous animals very much injure their corn fields, notwithstanding the hedges and ditches with which they fo carefully fence them. The frequent attacks of lions and tigers, hinder not their cattle from multiplying rapidly; and their trees are laden with fruit, in spite of the mischief done to them by the monkey tribes. In a word, it is a rich and plentiful country, and well fituated for commerce, which might be carried on here to any extent, by a nation beloved like the French; for no nation must think of establishing themselves here by force. The Chev. Des Marchais has proposed a plan for forming a colony at C. Mefurado, which (says his able editor, Father Labat) appears to me so promising and advantageous, that I think it my duty to lay it before the public.

Plan of a Colony at Cape Mefurado.

961. It has already been remarked, that King Peter gave to the Chev. Des Marchais, the largest of the little Islands at the mouth of the river Mesurado, and had very much urged him to fettle upon it. That gentleman had it not in his power to accept this offer, not knowing whether it would be agreeable to the Company. He therefore declined it, giving the king such reasons as he could prudently communicate; for an entire disclosure of his fentiments on the matter, might have raised fufpicions in the mind of that Prince, who is extremely jealous of his liberty, and of that of his people.

Ch. Des Mar

chais declines accepting an ifland offered him by the king.

of this ifland.

962. It is certain that this little island is well fituated, and might easily be put Advantages into a state of defence; that the foil is excellent; that the want of fresh water might be supplied by cifterns; that it lies in the very centre of all the trade, that can be carried on by the river Mefurado; that the provisions produced on it, and the fish which furround it, would maintain the European inhabitants a confiderable time, even fuppofing the negroes fhould take it into their heads to befiege it, or to reduce it by famine.

963. But it must be owned, that this little island is a great way from the entrance It's difadof the bafon, (flaque d'eau) by which alone a communication can be kept up with vantages. Tt European

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