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APPENDIX.

The king offers the Chev. any part of

the country he

chole to colonize.

defcribes it.

European fhipping; fo that this colony would be in the power of the negroes, who could fhut up the entrance when they pleased. The want of fresh water is a confi. derable objection, which could not be removed so easily as may be imagined; and Europeans fettled among negroes, ought always to be maflers of the ingrefs and egrefs, to and from their habitations.

964. Captain Peter, finding that the Chev. Des Marchais was not fatisfied with the little ifland, told him to fearch for a place which he thought more proper for a colony, and he would chearfully put him in poffeffion of it.-On receiving this affurance, the Chevalier took a view of the country; but found no place better fuited to his purpose, than the Cape itfelf, the fummit of which is a level plain, about He prefers the 4000 paces in circuit. The foil is good and fome trees grow on it. This eminence Cope iteli, & effectually commands the road, or rather the roads; for the eaftern bay will fhelter a vessel, in a cafe of difficulty; though the best and moft fecure anchorage is in the western, at the foot of the Cape, and within a musquet-shot of the fhore. There is good holding ground, in 8 or 10 fathoms, between the Cape and the mouth of the river or bafon (flaque d'eau.) A bar runs along this bay, before the river's mouth, which, in fome places, is dangerous; but it is easily got over by those who are accus tomed to it, and who know the proper time. This bar, however, is fcarcely perceptible at the foot of the Cape, in the angle which it makes with the continent. At this is a village, and a large perennial spring of water, which is light, keeps well, and is easily filled and brought on board. It iffues from a rock, more than half way up the hill, whence it falls in a cafcade, into a bafon which it has formed, whence it runs into the fea. Here the cafks are filled, and the boats come near enough to take them on board without difficulty or danger.

It might he fortified with advantage,

and with little expenie.

965. From this account it is evident, that thofe in poffeffion of the elevated platform might, by fortifying themselves, and making a proper road, defend the shipping at the foot of the hill, and command the spring of water, and the entrance into their factory, even if the negroes fhould block it up on the land fide.

966. The expense of a fortified factory, or even of a fort, would not be great. Clay fit for bricks, abounds every where, and even stone proper for afhlar work. Building timber grows on the fpot; and the common country provifions are extremely cheap. Except wine, brandy, and wheat flour, which the Company must supply, every thing else is to be had on the spot. Beef, mutton, goats, and hogs, coft little, and game abounds. Antelopes and deer graze quietly with the tame cattle in the meadows. There are many fpecies of birds. The bafon, the two rivers, and the sea, afford plenty of fish and turtles. No river on the coast is so much frequent. ed by fea-horfes as the Mefurado. The flesh of thefe animals is good food, and their teeth, which are whiter and harder than those of the elephant, are scarce and dear. (See § 304.)

967. The following is a lift of fuch goods as might be bought for the propofed APPENDIX. trade and establishment, at the present prices in France.

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968. Befides this expenfe, annual presents must be made to the three nearest Annual prekings, namely, of Cape Mount, of Cape Mefurado, and another who lives fome fents to the kings. days' journey inland, in order to keep them fteady to the Company's interefts. These presents must be left to the discretion of the factors, who must remember that the negroes are importunate beggars, whofe demands muft not be too easily complied with, and who ought to be regularly paid for their services.

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APPENDIX.

Flat-bottomed boats for the

river trade,

which would

be important.

All Europe ans, except the French, re

quire garrifons.

River St.An

drew alfo proper for a colony.

969. By these three statements it appears, that the expense of fettling the factory, including ships, boats, provifions, and wages for one year, will not exceed 147,530 livres, (=£5532 7s. 6d. fter.) and that this expense will continually diminish, inasmuch as that of the veffels, the buildings, &c. would not be annually repeated.

970. The two vessels would trade along fhore, as is the practice of the English and other nations. But as the fand-banks would prevent them from going up the river, it would be neceflary to use flat-bottomed boats for this purpose; for we are affured, that when the water is loweft, there is never lefs than 2 feet, which would be fufficient for fuch craft. The commerce of the river would undoubtedly be very advantageous. We fhould find out where the negroes get their gold, and perhaps might difcover mines of that, or of other metals. We fhould buy captives and produce from the first hands, and hence our profits would be furer and greater. And when the inland negroes and merchants should be certain of always finding an affortment of goods at the factory, they would frequent it eagerly, and we should foon engrofs all the European trade on that coast.

971. "Such," continues Labat, "is the fcheme which I propofe to the Company, from the Chev. Des Marchais. It is furprising that they confine themselves to the trade in laves at Whidah, while other nations are indifferent about this traffic, and principally attend to that of gold and ivory, dying woods and other valuable productions of the country. Their profits are immense, notwithstanding the prodigious expense of supporting garrisons, without which, the natives, who can fcarcely endure them, would long ago have driven them from the country. The French need not be at the same expense: for they are every where beloved. The natives eagerly court them, and would always be ready to defend them against any other Europeans, who might attempt to disturb their commerce*.

972. At p. 166, et feq. the author describes the river St. Andrew, whofe fertile banks produce provifions of all kinds in abundance, " and wild fugar-canes, larger, fweeter, and more juicy, than those cultivated in the W. Indies, from which large crops of fugar might be made, which are now deftroyed by the elephants." He gives it as his opinion, that a fettlement might be advantageously formed on that river; especially as there is at its mouth a natural fortress, on a high peninsula of table-land, similar to that at Mesurado. He fays, a colony there would not be expenfive, as the country abounds much with ground provifions and live flock, which are so very cheap, that a fine ox may be bought for a dozen of two-penny knives, and other things in proportion. Thus, fays he, (p. 174.) there is "no danger of want of provifions, which has ruined so many of our colonial enterprizes, and hath caused

I had many conversations with the late Capt. Norris of Liverpool, concerning Africa in general, and Meturado and it's vicinity in particular; and I must fay, that his account of that part of the coaft, agreed, in most respects, with the foregoing defcription of Des Marchais.

the

the death of fo many people, both in the islands and the continent of America. APPENDIX. (See § 755-) In this plentiful country, a colony cannot be reduced to famine."In short, this firft volume of Labat's Collection, which contains the voyages of the Chevalier Des Marchais, appears to me fo interesting, that I wonder it has not been tranflated into English.

*

No. 1. See § 609.

Extracts from various Authors who have written concerning AFRICA in general, and particularly of the Coast of Guinea, which may be useful in colonial undertakings in that part of the world.

E. Tilleman's Defcription of the Coaft of Guinea, printed 1697,

Tilleman.

973. Page 38. “On the whole Coast down to Cape Palmas, the best seasons Extract from for commerce are from December to May, during which time the weather is pretty good." P. 153. "The worst seafon to go between the Iflands of Cape Verd and the coaft, is in Sept. and Oct. the weather being then very calm, with variable winds." P. 155. "It is to be observed, that in the rainy seasons, which are in April, May and June, from Sierra Leona all the way down to Teffic, one ought not to approach nearer the coaft than about 6 English miles, as very strong winds, tornadoes and showers of rain may be expected." P. 156. "During these months, as well as in Feb. the natives are not fond of vifiting the fhips, it being too cold." P. 157. "In returning to Europe up the coaft, obferve to fail by the fea-wind every 6 hours, and every other 6 hours by the land wind, to anchor. The current fets to the shore all the way down the coaft." P. 159. "In the large river Gaboon is an exceeding fine and fertile Island, called Prince Ifland, recommended ftrongly by the author for a colony."

7. Rafk's Defcription of the Coast of Guinea, 1754.

974. Page 46. "A fugar plantation was established 9 English miles from the Fort Extracts from of Butra, 1707; but was difcouraged by the flave trade." P. 80. "Plenty of gold Rask. in the country above Cape Mount and Cape Mefurado." P. 82 and 150. "Alfo at Aquambo." P. 185. "The moft diligent and active negroes are a little above Acra. P. 186. "The rainy feasons are more regular in the interior part of the country." P. 197. " Very ftormy weather is never to be found upon the whole

coaft,"

Account

APPENDIX.

Extracts from

Grand Pierre.

Extracts from

writer.

Account of various Voyages to Africa and America by P. Grand Pierre. 1726. 975. Page 134. This author thus defcribes Rio Seftos." My ambition is, to be powerful and rich enough to fit out a large fleet, filled with able and intelligent people, to make a conqueft of this fine country and change it's nature, by introducing the best social laws and religious knowledge. I cannot comprehend why fimilar grand schemes are not undertaken by our princes, who, in other refpe&is, are fo intoxicated with the love of glory and honour. Nothing would appear to me more glorious than the execution of fuch noble and humane undertakings.

*

Account of the commerce carried on by different nations with the Coast of Guinea, as alfo a defeription of the Danish Island of Sta. Croix, in the W. Indies, printed at Copenhagen, 1758. .

800. Page 38." It is to be obferved that the negroes of the Windward Coast are an anonymous by nature well difpofed, and very friendly, inafmuch as Europeans among them, even in their cottages, are much fafer than on the Gold Coast, though protected by forts mounting 30 or 40 cannon. Besides that the Windward Coast is very delightful and agreeable, as also much more fertile and productive. Many English captains have been fo highly captivated by the beautiful fituations and fertility of this part. of the coast, that they have fixed themselves on five or fix different places, on spots which they have probably before visited, and after unloading their cargoes, they have delivered their fhips to the care of the mate, telling him, You may now return and give my best compliments to all my fhips owners. Several of them have lived there many years, in the greatest happiness, and are even become very rich, &c. P. 116 et feq. "Calculation of expences on a fugar plantation, which however, appears to be far from correct." See § 755.

Extracts from

Ulric Nordenkiold.

Treatife on the Utility of Commerce and Colonization, in both the Indies and in
Africa, by Ulric Nordenskiold, 1776. Octavo*.

977. Page 9. "The expense of establishing a colony will certainly not be fo great as many people imagine, unless the leading adventurers fpeculate with a view of forming their own immediate fortune at the expence of the colony, which unfortunately has been very often the cafe." P. 10. "Salaries fhould be paid in goods, and not in money. All merchants in a colony fhould only be allowed to carry on

This refpectable author, a brother of the late Mr. A. Nordenskiold, fee § 400, and Note R, feems to have owed many of his excellent propofitions to the Moravians, whofe pure and difinterested conduct does fo much credit to christianity and to human nature.

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