Chapter XII (4)

The Rivers of _Gambia_, _Sierraleon_, _Gabon_, the Straits and Channels of _Benin_, and thro’ the whole Coast, the flowings are regular on the Shores, with this difference, that in Rivers or Channels where two Shores contract the Waters into a narrow Compass, the Tides are strong and high, as well as regular; but on the dead Coast, slow and low, not to above two or three foot, increasing as you advance towards the Bay and Channels of _Benin_; and this is farther evident at Cape _Corso_, _Succonda_, _Commenda_, and other places: for wherever the Land rounds and cheques, the Flowings there will be a Foot or two more than on an evener Coast, tho’ next adjoining.

The Currents here set sometimes two knots an hour along Shore, sometimes with, sometimes against the Wind; tho’ generally to Leeward; sometimes off, sometimes on, ripling like a Tide, at other times a smooth unmoved Surface for days together, and never felt, or imperceptible at 8 or 10 Leagues Offing.

The Currents set in on both Shores, to the Bay of _Benin_; _from_ the Southward, about and beyond Cape _Lopez_; and _from_ the Westward along the _Papau_ Coast, that is, to Leeward; for the Winds are as commonly deflected along Shore, as the Currents. This all Ships experience in their Passage to _Angola_, if they hold the Land on board, or if they endeavour getting Westward on the _Papau_ or Gold Coast.

The reason of this Diversity, I imagine, proceeds from the Formation of the Land, together with the Weather, and the Winds.

The Land being on a strait Line, without Gulphs or Bays, unless that remarkably large one of _Benin_ and _Callabar_, the Flux of the Sea, when it comes to be bounded by the Shores, have a natural Tendency there, seen in growing stronger as they advance towards it on both sides; because such Gulphs, in a Contraction of the Waters, bear some Resemblance to Channels, which every where in proportion to their Breadth and Depth, and the Sea they stand open with, have more or less Current or Tide along their Shores inward; assisted partly by the Winds, which, as I have observed, are deflected, and tend also on both sides towards the Bay; and partly, by the Weather; clear and hot Sunshines drawing more Vapours from the Seas _next Shores_ in all places, (and especially in Bays with Shoals) to be expended in Exhalations, Mists, Fogs, and Rains; the Rains again may, by being incessant for a Month or six Weeks, and in a Rotation upon different parts of the Coast, contribute to some little diversity of Strength.

Another reason of Currents tending mostly to Leeward here, is the Flood being propagated from a vast Southern Ocean, takes it’s Course along Shore; but the Ebbs revert easily and equally from all parts to the Ocean, and therefore make so little an Alteration of the Stream, as is seldom and scarcely felt at a very little distance from it. The most that we found was open with this Bite of _Benin_. We left _Whydah_ the latter end of _July_, where tho’ the Currents in the Road were very strong to Leeward, and the Winds altogether S. W. yet we found we could with ease have weathered any of the Islands; which would have been impossible, had the same Current in the Road extended across the whole Bay; nay, our getting so far to the Southward (_i. e._ Windward) will be very difficult to account for, unless the Waters received into this Bay by those Currents are allowed to reverberate in the middle Space, tho’ insensibly, towards the main Ocean.

From these light Observations, I think it may be concluded, _First_, that in all Places, Currents and Tides have a very great affinity. That it is principally the Formation of the Lands drives them into the one or the other; if contracted between two Shores so as to form a Channel, the diurnal Elevation of the Ocean, by the Attraction of the Moon, will make there a Tide, rapid in proportion to it’s Breadth, Depth, and Sea it is open to: And if an open Coast, as _Guinea_, those Tides become Currents. This agrees with the Voyages I have met to those Parts, and particularly the sixth general one set forth by the _India_ Company of that Channel, made by the Eastern side of the Continent, and the Island of _Madagascar_; for being too deep and broad for the Direction of a Tide, _there are Northern and Southern Currents_, as the elevated Sea rowls round the North or South end of the Island: and which is still more agreeable, _they are strongest where the Channel is narrowest, and less, and vary on different Points of the Compass, as the Sea spreads more in the Passage cross the Line_.

2. That all Currents and Tides are found only on Shores, and indiscernible at 10 Leagues distance from a Coast, or the Mouth of any Channel; are also variable from the same Influence of the Moon, and Change of Weather.

_RAINS._

There is a Return of Vernal and Autumnal Rains through the whole Coast. The former, whether on this or the other side the Equator, are longer and more incessant. They begin on this side at _Sierraleon_, in _May_; at the Gold Coast and _Whydah_, in _April_, preceded by S. and S. E. Winds. On the other side the Line again, the Vernal Rains fall at Cape _Lopez_, in _October_; at _Angola_ in _November_, &c. And as these Seasons are attended with the Interposition of Clouds thro’ both, the Air is cooler, and therefore by the stewed Inhabitants denominated Winter.

What conduces to such annual and regular Returns, is perhaps inscrutable: It is only a general Observation, that the Sun, on or nigh the Æquinox, inclines to rain every where. Dr. _Clayton_ says, (_Philos. Trans._) that there are frequent and great Rains at _Virginia_ in _April_ and _September_, and other Countries observe the same. The ultimate end is to embrue the Land with Fertility, where the Inhabitants have Sense and Willingness to co-operate with Providence.

At Cape _Corso_ this year, they ceased the end of _May_; they had fell, we understood, for six Weeks before, almost without intermission, only some hours they were heavier, and chiefly in the Nights, with continued Thunder, Lightning, and Calms. Whenever they felt a Breeze, it was Southerly, (directly upon the Land) the Clouds that contained the Rains succeeding one another from the Ocean, as it were orderly. If the Horizon brightened as it does by Spirts at these Seasons, the Sun is felt with redoubled Heat and Fervour.

[30]The Mist and Haziness of the Horizon (always on the Coast) and those great Dews which out of the rainy Seasons fall every night on the Shore, and rarely or never two Miles from it where the Ships anchor, are corroborating Proofs of what is just before hinted under the Article of Currents, that the Vapours supplying these, or Rains, are extracted from Coasts and Shallows more abundantly than from the main Ocean; which would otherways be seen and felt, and in greater measure at Sea, from so large a Body of Waters surrounding; but is so far from happening, that _Exhalations of all sorts diminish, as is the Distance from Land_.

Again, the Winds from Sea, which are the Winds that usher in these Rains, are known to spring up but a few Leagues from Shore; (the _Trade_ obtaining in all these Latitudes:) and tho’ I say, any regular Periods of it under this Vicinity of the Sun all the year may be inscrutable, yet when they do come, they visibly bring on the Land-Clouds loaded with aqueous Vapors; a more rarified Air there naturally attracting them, and helping their fall.

Both Ships came to Isle _Del Principe_ the end of _July_, 1721, where we felt dreadful Effects from the excessive Heats and Irregularity of the Seamen, during our _Careening_; for although we arrived very healthy, the Island furnishing _Palm_-Wines and the means of debauching at easy Rates, and our Tents giving opportunity; they soon run into Excess, which brought on an epidemical malignant Fever, that reduced us in a short Stay of two Months, to some Deliberations whether we could proceed to Sea safely without a return of Men from _England_; the _Weymouth_ not being able to purchase her Anchors, and we in the _Swallow_ with difficulty. My Judgment, as Surgeon, was by all means to go, tho’ in the most sickly Condition, because thus removed from the chief Causes of our Misfortune (Calms, excessive Heats, and a disorderly Living) whoever were visited with the Distemper, would by that method find a Crisis in Recovery or Death, and stop the infection: We therefore, with the Assistance of some Men from a _Dutch East-India_ Ship that happened to put in, got under Sail and left the Island; the effect I have related elsewhere more at large, and shall only observe here, that our Fevers for want of Necessaries turned in many to Fluxes, and pursued us, tho’ with less Cruelty. The _Weymouth_, who brought out of _England_ a Compliment of 240 Men, having at the end of the Voyage 280 dead upon her Books.

_Princes_ was the Birth-place of _Africanus_ and _Moulee_, of whom they give this tragical Relation; That she becoming a Favourite of her Patron, was forced from _Africanus_, and having a Child whose Complexion betray’d the true Father, _Africanus_ murdered both, and afterwards himself, to avoid Punishment.

We touched at [31]_St. Thome_, the chief of these _Portuguese_ Islands for fresh Provisions, purchased cheap; the Profit of half a dozen Hogs fed two or three Months, and sold at the Gold Coast, will maintain the _best_ Mess in a Ship a whole year.

It was lucky for Mr. _Rowry_, Master of a _Bristol_ Vessel, that the Man of War came in; his Men had made him Prisoner, and were disposing of the Slaves at a very easy Rate with the Governor, who rejects no Schemes of Profit. _Rowry_, who had been discountenanced by him upon his Men’s Complaints, was now heard indeed; but not knowing _rightly_ the Method of getting Men to bring away his Brigantine in our Company, he was obliged to take what Price the Governor would set on her and her Cargo, and took Passage with us for Cape _Corso_; where, upon Demand, he accompanied his Leave with a handsome Acknowledgment for his Diet, and went home with the Account.

We regained the Gold Coast in fifteen days from this Island, having met in the Passage some Sprinklings that we understood had been heavy showers on Shore.

_WINDS._

The Winds, different from our Quarter of the World, in these Voyages are either peculiar to warm Latitudes; such are _Trade-Winds_, _Land and Sea Breezes_; or to the Coast, _Tornadoes_, and _Air-Mattans_.

_Trade-Winds_ are easterly, blow fresh night and day, all the Year, and every where round the Globe; that Part of it I mean that we are upon, the Ocean, whether _Atlantick_, _Indian_, or _American_: for the Soil and Position of Lands, though the same Cause of them subsists more powerfully, gives uncertain and various Deflections. They will extend to 30°° of N. Latitude, when the Sun is on this side the Equator, and as far S. when on the other; deflecting where he is farthest off (here to the N. E. there to the S. E.) and always nearest to the E. Point on the Equinoctial, or where he is vertical.

The general Causes assigned by the Ingenious for these Phænomena, and with the greatest Probability of Truth, are;

_First_, _the daily Rotation of the Earth Eastward upon its Axis_, whereby the Air or Wind (the enforced Stream of it) by this means goes Westward in respect of the Superficies; and this is farther countenanced in that these Winds are found only in the largest Circles, where the diurnal Motion is swiftest; and _also because they blow as strong in the Night as Day; home, on the Coast of_ Brasil, _as near_ Guinea.

The _second_ permanent Cause of this Effect, the ingenious Dr. _Halley_ ascribes to the Action of the Sun-beams upon the Air and Water every day, considered together with the Nature of the Soil, and Situation of the adjoining Continents.

The Sun heats and rarefies the Air exceedingly, in all Latitudes within the _Zodiack_, (evident from the anhelous Condition it subjects most Animals to in Calms) and therefore the Air from Latitudes more _without_ his Influence (as more ponderous) presses in, to restore the Equilibrium: and to follow the Sun, must come from the Eastward. The westerly Winds that restore this Balance, from Latitudes beyond the Tropicks, would, I fancy, be as constant, and keep a Circulation, were the whole a Globe of Waters: As it is, they are from 30 to 60°°, abundantly the most predominant, with a Deviation to N. or S. on various Accidents: blow with more force, because, among other Reasons, the Equilibrium is restored to a greater from a lesser Circle; and as it were to confirm this, are received into the Trade-wind, with a Deflection of N. E. or more northward at the Point of reception.

On the Coast of _Guinea_, North of the Equinoctial, the true Winds are westerly, keeping a Track with the Shore, where it trenches all eastward. From the River _Gabon_ again, under the Line, the Land stretches to the Southward, and, exactly answerable thereto, the Winds wheel from S. E. to S. by E. to keep nigh a Parallel with it; in both, the Shore seems to deflect the true _Trade_, in the same manner Capes do Tides or Currents, and obliges it, like them, on that Point where they have the freest Passage. If at any particular Seasons (as in the Rains is remarked) the Winds become more southerly, and set full upon the Shore, they are weak; and as the Sun is at such time on this side the Equinoctial, it is probably to restore an Equilibrium to that Air at land, more rarefied from a stronger and more reflected Heat.

I shall give two or three other Remarks on Trade-winds, proper, tho’ made at other Periods of the Voyage.

1. You must be distant from the Influence of Land to Windward, before the _Trade_ blows true and fresh, (from this Coast we may suppose twenty or thirty Leagues) and then a Ship bound to _America_ will make a constant and smooth Run of forty or fifty Leagues every twenty-four Hours. And as there are no Storms, vast numbers of flying Fish sporting near the Ship, (_found every where within the Verge of these Winds, and no where else that ever I saw_,) _Bonetoes_ pursuing them; with Birds of various sorts, _Garnets_, _Boobys_, _Tropick-Birds_, and _Sheerwaters_, it makes a very delightful sailing.

2. Although the N. E. and S. E. Trade-Winds on this and that side the _Line_, do not blow adverse, yet by approaching to it, are in my Thoughts, the Occasion of becalming the Latitudes between 4 and 12° N, the Point of Contest; as we found, and will be hereafter remarked in our Passage from _Brasil_ to the _West-Indies_, in _July_ and _August_: and this I think, _First_, because the East southerly Trade is known ordinarily to extend E. S. E. to 4° of Northern Latitude: and consequently, as the East northerly is bounded a little nearer or further from the Equinoctial, as is the Station of the Sun; Calms and small Breezes, the Attendant of them, may vary a little, yet they will always happen about these Latitudes, and near the windward Shores be attended with Thunder, Lightning, and perpetual Rains. _Secondly_, all Ships actually find this in their Passage from _Guinea_ to the _West-Indies_ in any Month, or from _England_ thither; the true Trade decreasing as they approach those Latitudes, and up between _Cape Verd_ and the Islands, those Calms by all our Navigators are said to be as constantly attended with Rains and Thunder.

_Thirdly_, Because the same thing happens at the Commencement of the _Trade_, from the variable Winds in 27 or 28°° of Northern Latitude, sooner or later as I observed is the Station of the Sun: From all which I would infer, that from _Guinea_ these calm Latitudes are easier passed, not nigh, but within 100 Leagues of the Continent of _Africa_, and at _America_ not to get into them till a Ship has nigh run her Distance; for the Land, I think, either to Windward or Leeward does give a better Advantage to the Breezes, than nearer or more remote: Ships from _England_ do not want this Caution so much, because the N. E. _Trade_ does not fail till a little beyond the Parallel of _Barbadoes_, the Southermost of our Islands.

_Land and Sea-Breezes_ are Gales of no great Extent, the former much fainter and inconstant will blow off an Island to a Roadsted, be on which side of it you will, but whether at the same time or no, or now here, now there, I am not experienced enough to say, tho’ their Weakness and Inconstancy makes either way defensible.—They are found at all shores within or near the Tropicks, the Sea-breeze coming in about ten in the morning, fresh and sweet, enlivening every thing. The Land-breeze when it does succeed, is at the same distance from Sun-set or later, small, sultry, and stinking, especially when from Rivers whose Banks are pestered with rotten _Mangroves_, stagnating Waters, _&c._

They seem to arise entirely from the _Heat of the Sun-beams_: That the Air is more rarified by their Reflections on the solid Body of the Earth than on a fluid, is certain; therefore till their rarified Air, made so by three or four hours Sun, is brought to an Equilibrium, the Breezes must be from the Sea at all parts of the Coast, because at all parts, the same Cause is operating. And if this Rarefaction is limited by a determined heighth of the Atmosphere, the Sea-breezes that are to fill up the Vacuities will last a determined time only; _two, three, or more hours_: this is fact, but whether properly solved, must be submitted. Of affinity with this are the frequent Breezes we find with meridian Suns at shores, even to the Latitude of _England_, tho’ very still before and after. Again, the Land-breezes which succeed at night when the Sun has lost it’s Power, seem by their Weakness to be the return of Air heaped up by the preceding day’s Heat, like other Fluids when higher or fuller from any Cause (in one part than another) of course has it’s reflux to make an even Surface.

_Tornadoes_, by the _Spaniard_ called _Travadoes_, are in no part of the World so frequent as at _Guinea_. They are fierce and violent Gusts of Wind that give warning for some hours by a gradual lowering and blackening of the Sky to Windward whence they come, accompanied with Darkness, terrible Shocks of Thunder and Lightning, and end in Rains and Calm. They are always _off shore_, between the N. and N. E. here, and more Easterly at the _Bites of Benin, Calabar, and Cape Lopez_; but although they are attended with this favourable Property of blowing from the shore, and last only three or four hours, yet Ships immediately at the appearance of them furl all their Sails and drive before the Wind.

We have sometimes met with these _Tornadoes_ two in a day, often one; and to shew within what a narrow Compass their effects are, Ships have felt one, when others at ten Leagues distance have known nothing: Nay, at _Anamaboo_ (3 or 4 Leagues off) they have had serene Weather while we have suffered under a _Tornado_ in Cape _Corso_ Road. And _vice versa_. A Proof of what Naturalists conjecture, that no Thunder is heard above 30 Miles; in these Storms it seems to be very near, one we felt the Afternoon of taking _Roberts_ the Pyrate, that seemed like the ratling of 10000 small Arms within three yards of our Heads; it split our Maintop-Mast, and ended as usual in excessive Showers, and then calm; the nearness is judged by the Sound instantly following the Flash. Lightning is common here at other times, especially with the shutting in of Evening, and flashes perpendicularly as well as horizontally.

Both arise from a plenty of nitrous and sulphurous Exhalations that make a Compound like Gun-powder, set on fire in the Air; and if the Clouds that retain them be compact, and their heterogeneous Contents strong, various, and unequal, then like a Cannon in proportion to these, the disjection is with more or less Violence, producing Thunder, which as with a [32]Shot has frequently split the Masts of Ships; and strengthens the above Observation of _their being discharged near hand_; because if at any considerable distance, they would spread in the Explosion, and lose their Force. It furnishes also another, _viz._ That neither Thunder nor Lightning can be felt or heard far from shores; Winds may impel such Exhalations something, but at a hundred Leagues from any Land the Appearance must be rare and uncommon, because the matter of their Compound cannot be collected there.

_Air-mattans_, or _Harmatans_, are impetuous Gales of Wind from the Eastern Quarter about _Midsummer_ and _Christmas_; they are attended with Fogs, last three or four hours, (seldom with Thunder or Lightning, as the _Tornados_) and cease with the Rain; are very dry, shriveling up Paper, Parchment, or Pannels of Escruitores like a Fire. They reach sometimes this Gold Coast, but are frequentest and in a manner peculiar to the Bite of _Benin_, named so some think from _Aer Montain_, respecting whence they come; or by others _Mattan_, the _Negrish_ Word for a pair of Bellows, which they having seen, compare this Wind to.

_The GUINEA Trade._

An extensive Trade, in a moral Sense, is an extensive Evil, obvious to those who can see how Fraud, Thieving, and Executions have kept pace with it. The great Excess in Branches feeding Pride and Luxury, are an Oppression on the Publick; and the Peculiarity of it in this, and the Settlement of Colonies are Infringements on the Peace and Happiness of Mankind.

By discoursing on this particular Branch, I do not pretend to a Sufficiency of giving full Directions; the Natives Alteration and Diversity of Taste are Obstacles with the most experienced: It’s only within my Design to give a general Insight to such as are Strangers, and a Rule to improve upon by such as are not.

We may for this end divide _Guinea_ into a windward Coast, the Gold Coast, and the Bay, a Tract of 6 or 700 Leagues from the River _Gambia_, in 13°° N. to _Angola_, about 9 or 10°° S. The _Portuguese_ were the first _Europeans_ that settled and built Forts here, tho’ now the least concerned, paying their Tribute to the _Dutch_ for Leave: What remains of theirs is to the Southward on the River _Congo_ at _Loango de St. Paul_, and the Islands, where they keep Priests to teach their Language to the Natives, and baptize without making Christians.

1. In the windward Coast, _Gambia_, _Sierraleon_, and _Sherbro_ Rivers may be reckoned chief; the _African_ Company having Factors and Settlements there. Less noted, but more frequented by private Ships in this part of _Guinea_, are Cape _Mont_, and _Montzerado_, _Sesthos_ River, Capes _Palmas_, _Apollonia_, and _Tres Puntas_. A number of others intervene, of more or less Trade; which it is their Custom to signify at the sight of any Ship by a Smoke, and is always looked on as an Invitation to Trade; but as each is alterable among them from the Chance of War, the Omission shews they decline it, or are out of Stock.

This Change of Circumstance found on different Voyages, proceeds from weak and bad Governments among themselves, every Town having their own _Cabiceers_ or ruling Men, (or it may be three or four in Confederacy) all so jealous of the others _Panyarring_, that they never care to walk even a mile or two from home without Fire-Arms; each knows it is their Villanies and Robberies upon one another that enables them to carry on a Slave-trade with _Europeans_; and as Strength fluctuates, it is not unfrequent for him who sells you Slaves to-day, to be a few days hence sold himself at some neighbouring Town; this I have known.

The same way of reasoning answers for the _Panyarrs_ and Murders so frequently between them and us, and never that I heard with the _French_ or _Portuguese_. For if any of our Ships from _Bristol_ or _Liverpool_ play tricks, and under pretence of Traffick seize and carry away such of them as come on board, and trust themselves on that Confidence, the Friends and Relations never fail with the first Opportunity to revenge it; they never consider the Innocence of who comes next, but as Relations in Colour, _Panyarr_ the Boat’s Crews who trust themselves foolishly on shore, and now and then by dissembling a Friendship, have come on board, surprized and murdered a whole Ship’s Company. Captain _Piercy_’s Lieutenant was killed on shore on some such Pretence, or because he had a good Suit of Cloaths, or both. Captain _Canning_ of the _Dove_ Brigantine 1732, was cut off by the Natives of _Grand Bassau_ from an Inadvertency; first, of tempting the _Negroes_ with the sight of a fine Cargo, and then by trusting the Mate Mr. _Tho. Coote_ on shore; the one prompted them to rob, and the other was an Hostage for their Security, they ventured off in their Canoos and murdered all the Company under the Conduct of a Fellow they called _Thomas Grey_, who run the Vessel in shore; the Mate remained with them unhurt, about sixteen days, and was then redeemed by Captain _Wheeler_ for 17 Pounds worth of Goods, which as an Encouragement to the Service, he was suffered to repay at _London_. His Food during the stay, was _Indian_ Corn, Rice, Snails and Monkeys; the last they shoot as often as they want, in the Woods, and after the Guts are taken out, singe the Hair off, and then boil it in the Skin. He saw no other Flesh in this part of the Country, excepting a few Fowls, tho’ he was up it above twelve miles.

2. The Gold Coast is the middle and smallest part of the Division, stretching from _Axiem_ a _Dutch_ Settlement, to near the River _Volta_, an extent of 70 or 80 Leagues, but of more consequence than the others, in respect to our’s and the _Dutch_ Company’s Forts, who together command the greatest part of it. There is one _Danish_ Fort at _Accra_ indeed, (the Leewardmost of our Settlements) but in a decaying State, and will probably (as that of the _Brandenburghers_ at Cape _Tres Puntas_) be relinquished in a little time.

Our Company’s principal Fort is at Cape _Corso_. That of the _Dutch_, two or three Leagues above, called _Des Minas_ or _St. George de Elmina_; each has other little ones up and down this Coast, to gather in the Trade that centers for the respective Companies, at one or other of the aforesaid larger Forts.

The _African_ Company was erected under the Duke of _York_ in K. _Charles_ II’s Time, and therefore _Royal_; the Epithet being still retained, tho’ that Prince’s Superstition, and Thirst after Power, have long since justly banish’d him the Realm.

In it’s first flourishing Condition, it was allowed by authentick Accounts to have gained annually to _England_ 900,000_l._ whereof in Teeth, Camwood, Wax and Gold, was only 100,000_l._ and the rest in Slaves; which in the Infancy of their Trade were in very great demand over all the _American_ Plantations to supply their own wants, and carry on a clandestine Commerce with the _Spanish_ West-_Indies_. On Computation, _Barbadoes_ wanted annually 4000 _Negroes_, _Jamaica_ 10000, Leeward Islands 6000; and because the Company (’twas complained by such as wished them ill Success) could not supply this Number, having only imported 46396 Slaves between the years 1680 and 1688; Interlopers crept in, and contended for a Share; which the _Company_ represented as contrary to the Privileges of their Patent, and withal, that the Accusation was groundless and unjust, because they did supply enough for demand, and maintained Forts and Garisons at a great Charge, for awing and subjecting the Natives to trade, and maintaining an Industry equal to the _Dutch_, without which it was plain to all impartial Considerers, it would be but very difficultly carried on. However, their Adversaries, after some years of grumbling, obtained an Act of Parliament 1697, whereby private Traders for making good this deficiency of Slaves, should have Liberty of Trade, allowing the Company 10 _per Cent._ towards defraying their extraordinary Expence.

From this time the _Company_ more visibly decayed, insomuch that in eight following years they only imported to the West-_Indies_ 17760 Slaves; and the separate Traders in that time 71268.

Their 10 _per Cent._ in the first ten years amounted to 87465_l._ and therefore finding their Trade under great disadvantages with these new Inmates, they resolved to make the best shares they could in this Money, by lessening their Expence about the Forts. They accordingly withdrew all Supplies from their Garisons, leaving them to subsist by their own Management or starve. _Gambia_ Fort having only twelve men, was taken by a Privateer of eight Guns in 1709, _Sierraleon_ thirteen men, _Sherbro_ four, and these not of any Charge to the Company, but were possessed by such, who having a long time resided in their Service, by help of those Fortifications were capable to do something for themselves, and so the private Traders by degrees got entirely quit of their Impost; the reason in a manner ceasing, for which it was at first allowed.

About 1719, their Affairs seemed to revive again, under the Auspices of the Duke of _Chandois_, who became a very considerable Proprietor in their Stock, and promised from his Figure and Interest a Renewal of those Privileges that had depressed them; their Objections ceasing, (the number demanded being now very short of what it was formerly.) More Ships were imployed than for many years past, but whether it were their too large Expence, or Corruption of their chief Officers, who too often in Companys think they are sent abroad purely for their own Service, or both; they soon felt that without a _separate Act_ they were uncapable of contending with private Traders, and every year more and more explaining their Inability, they applied to Parliament, and now support their Forts by an annual Allowance from the Government, of 10000_l._

Those who are the Favourers of Companies suggest, that if the Trade must be allowed, and the Christian Scheme of enlarging the Flock cannot well be carried on without it, that then it seems necessary and better for the Publick that some rich and powerful Set of Men should have such exclusive Powers to encourage and enable the subsisting of Forts and Garisons, to awe the Natives and preserve the Trade from being engrossed by our dangerous Rivals here, the _Dutch_; which, as we relinquish, falls an acquisition to them, and renders all precarious; they could also bring (as an exclusive Company) foreign Markets to their own Price.

The Company’s Trade wanting that Encouragement, every year grows worse; buying dearer than in times past on the Coast, and selling cheaper in the _West-Indies_; the reason at _Guinea_, is a greater Scarcity of Slaves, and an improved Knowledge in the trading _Negroes_ who dispose of them; and at the _West-Indies_ it is the Demand failing, more disadvantageously still for them, because separate Traders are not under the delays they are subject to: They take the whole Coast in their way, while the other is consigned to the Governour, and can afford to undersel their Goods (necessary Requisites for Dispatch and Success) because they stand exempt from all Coast-Charges. On the other side, our Colonies are now pretty well glutted with Slaves, and their Call consequently not nigh so large: 2000 in a year perhaps furnishes all our Plantations, and tho’ more are imported, it is in order to transport them again to the _Spanish West-Indies_, where tho’ the _Assiento_ Ships are of late years only indulged by Treaty, all others being liable to Confiscation, and the People to Slavery if taken by the _Spanish Guard le Costa_; yet the Prospect of Gain inciting, they still find means to continue on, and maintain a forcible Traffick for them, under the Protection of their Guns. This clandestine Method, by the way, hurts the _South-Sea_ Company, beating down the Price of their Slaves, who cannot so well afford it, because bought, and brought there at a greater Charge.

The third part of our Division is the Bay of _Guinea_, which takes in _Whydah_, _Benin_, _Callabar_, &c. to _Congo_ and _Angola_ in 8°° S. In this Extent _Whydah_ is principal, there being more Slaves exported from that place before the late Conquest of it by the King of _Dauhomay_, than from all the rest of the Coast together, the _Europeans_ being said in some years to have carried off 20000; but more of this by and by. I shall only observe, that as this part abounds more with Slaves, the other does with Gold, and the windward Coast with Ivory.

I now proceed to our Method of Trade, and shall sum the Rules of it up, under the head of Interlopers. Private trading Ships bring two or three Boats with them upon this Coast for Dispatch, and while the Mates go away in them with a proper Parcel of Goods, and Instructions into the Rivers and By-places, the Ship is making good her Trade at others near hand.

The Success of a Voyage depends _first_, on the well sorting, and on the well timing of a Cargo. _Secondly_, in a Knowledge of the places of Trade, what, and how much may be expected every where. _Thirdly_, in dramming well with _English_ Spirits, and conforming to the Humours of the _Negroes_. _Fourthly_, in timely furnishing proper Food for the Slaves. _Fifthly_, in Dispatch; and _Lastly_, the good Order and Management of Slaves when on board; of each, a Word or two.

_First_, on the _Timing_ of a Cargo: This depends at several places much on Chance, from the fanciful and various Humours of the _Negroes_, who make great demands one Voyage for a Commodity, that perhaps they reject next, and is in part to be remedied either by making the things they itch after, to pass off those they have not so much mind to, or by such a continual Traffick and Correspondence on the Coast, as may furnish the Owner from time to time with quick Intelligence, to be done only by great Merchants, who can keep imployed a number of Ships, that like a Thread unites them in a Knowledge of their Demands, and a readier Supply for them, as well as dispatch for their Master’s Interest, by putting the Purchases of two or three Ships into one. The late Mr. _Humphry Morrice_ was the greatest private Trader this way, and unless Providence had fixed a Curse upon it, he must have gained exceedingly.

_Secondly_, _Of the Sorting_, this may be observed in general; That the Windward and Leeward Parts of the Coast are as opposite in their Demands, as is their distance. Iron Bars, which are not asked for to Leeward, are a substantial Part of Windward Cargoes. Crystals, Orangos, Corals, and Brass-mounted Cutlasses are almost peculiar to the Windward Coast;—as are brass Pans from _Rio Sesthos_ to _Apollonia_.—Cowreys (or Bouges) at _Whydah_.—Copper and Iron Bars at _Callabar_;—but Arms, Gun-powder, Tallow, old Sheets, Cottons of all the various Denominations, and _English_ Spirits are every where called for. Sealing-wax, and Pipes, are necessary in small Quantities, they serve for _Dashees_ (Presents) and a ready Purchase for Fish, a Goat, Kid, or a Fowl.

To be more particular, here follows an Invoyce bought at _London_ about the year 1721.

_A GUINEA Cargo._

_l. s. d._ _l. s. d._
10 Cotton Ramalls at 0 11 0 5 10 0
10 Silk D^o 1 00 0 10 00 0
20 Herba-longees 0 10 0 10 00 0
20 Photees 0 17 6 17 10 0
30 Tapseils 0 12 0 18 00 0
20 Blue swaft Bafts 1 02 0 22 00 0
20 Chintz 0 12 6 12 10 0
50 Nichanees 0 13 0 32 10 0
176 Blue Paper Sletias 0 7 6 66 00 0
650 Crystal Beads }
N^o 221 _per Mill._ } 2 00 0 13 00 0
2500 D^o —— N^o 30 2 12 0 6 10
4500 D^o —— N^o 36 2 18 0 13 01 0
2000 Rangos _per Cwt._ 0 11 0 11 00 0
4 Cases and Chests 1 15 0
Charges and Entry at Custom-house 3 12 6

_Ct. q. l._
20 Brass Kettles _qt._ 2 0 02
28 D^o 2 0 04
25 D^o 2 0 06
251 _Guinea_ Pans 3 0 18
------------
9 1 02

_per Cwt._ 7_l._ 7_s._ 0_d._ 68 02 5
------------
311 00 11

4 Casks 1 03 00
20 Chests of old Sheets }
each _qt._ 65, at } 0 1 10½ 121 17 06
130 2_lb._ _Guinea_ Basins.
73 3 —— D^o
13 4 —— D^o
In all 4_Cwt._ 1_q._ 11_l._ 18 04 09
Box of Scales, Weights and blue Pans. 19 00
Cartage, Portage, Wharfage, _&c._ 4 10 00
84 Quart Tankards at 2_s._ 2_d._ 9 02 00
96 Pint D^o at 1 8 8 00 00
A Cask 14 09
11 Groce of slope-pointed Knives }
at 1_l._ 6_s._ } 14 06 00
200 Blue Ranters at 0 08 00 80 00 00
50 Narrow green D^o 0 08 00 20 00 00
50 Broad blue D^o 0 11 06 28 15 00
25 Says at 1 15 06 44 09 06
8 Cases with Carriage 2 10 06
150 Trading Guns at 0 08 03 61 17 06
50 D^o dock Locks 0 08 06 21 05 00
150 Cags 0 00 07 02 10 06
21 _Cwt._ Tallow 2 01 00 43 01 00
For melting and putting
up _per Cwt._ 00 02 2 03 00
Cartage, and 10 large Cags 00 11 00 16 08
------------
797 06 07

35 Small Cags at 0 00 08 1 03 04
10 Barrels of Powder 3 05 00 32 10 00
Wateridge and shifting the Powder 00 08 06
50 Wickered Bottles 0 03 02 9 03 04
172 Gall. malt Spirits 0 02 00 17 04 00
40 Cases of Spirits 0 07 00 14 00 00
Freight of a Vessel to _Portsmouth_ 5 10 00
Expences and Postage of Letters 0 11 00
Commission at 2½ _per Cent._ 22 03 03
------------
900 00 00
10 _Cwt._ of Cowrys at 5_l._ 50 00 00
------------
Total 950 00 00

I was but a young Trader, and could not find out till I came upon the Coast, that this Cargo was ill sorted. At the first place we touched (_Sierraleon_) where commonly may be got twenty or thirty as good Slaves as any upon the Coast, I found I had neither Cutlasses, iron Bars, a better sort of Fire-Arms, Malt, and other strong Liquors, the delight of those Traders. At none of the others, quite down to the Gold Coast, were many considerable Articles of my Invoyce ever asked for; so that I was forced to make friends with the Factorys, and exchange at such a loss, that had it not been for the small Wages our Ship was at, and some lucky hits, the Owners must have suffered much; but to give an Insight.

_The Sale of Goods._

At _Sierraleon_.

Gold Bars.
1 Piece of Planes 10
7 77_lb._ Kettles 26
3 Pieces of Chintz 12
1 Piece of Handkerchief Stuff 2
---
The Price of a Woman Slave 50

7 50_lb._ Kettles 20
5 Pieces of Brawls 10
1 Piece of Ramal 4
1 Bar of Iron 1
---
The Price of a Boy Slave 35

At _Apollonia_.

_Accys._
2 Photees 14
2 Cotton Ramals 8
1 Piece Longee 4
2 Sletias 5
7 Sheets 7
32 Brass Pans 32
---
A Man Slave 70

3 Photees 21
41 Sheets 41
2 Longees 8
---
A Man Slave 70

At _Gambia_.

Gold Bars.
9 Gallons of Brandy 9
6 Bars of Iron 6
2 Small Guns 10
1 Cag of Powder 10
2 Strings of Pacato Beads 2
1 Paper Sletia 3
---
A Woman Slave 40

At _Assinee_.

8 Trading Guns 32
1 Wicker Bottle 4
2 Cases of Spirits 6
28 Sheets 28
---
A Man Slave 70

At _Anamaboo_ and Cape _Palmas_.

_Accys._
A Cag of Tallow 2½
A quart Pewter Tankard 1
A Pint D^o ½
4_lb._ Pewter Basin 1
2_lb._ Pewter Basin ½
Sealing-Wax 3
A qr. Barrel of Powder 8
A gallon Cag of Musket-Shot 6
A gallon Cag of small Shot 8

At _Whydah_,

Cowrys sell _per Cwt._ 12_l._ 10_s._ or in
their way of reckoning, 10 _grand Quibesses_.

At _Angola_, the Duties are about 100_l._ Sterl. every Ship; and Goods sell, _viz._

Pieces.
A Gun 1
A Cag of Powder 1
A deep blue Baft 3
A Culgee 3
A Tapseil 2
A Nicanee 2
A Cutchalee 1½
A red Chintz 1½
A Bundle of Anabasses qt. 10_lb._ 1
10 Brass Pans small and large 1
4 2_lb._ Pewter Basins 1
1½ Case of Spirits 1
A whole Case D^o 1½
4 Cutlasses 1
A _Guinea_ Stuff ½
2 Bunches of Beads 1
4 King’s Cloths 1
4 Looking-Glasses 1
10 Pint Mugs 1
A Brawl ½
9 Foot of black Bays 1
16 Inches of Scarlet Cloth 1
16 D^o of blue Cloth 1
1 Photee 2
1 Pair Cotton Ramal 1½

As I propos’d only a general View of the Trade, I have pointed out here the best I could, what Goods are asked for, the Price, and at some places, the Proportion; the Slaves selling at a Medium of 15_l._ a Man, and 12_l._ a Woman; a Gun and Barrel of Powder being always parts of the Truck (at _Cabenda_) for a Slave. They have Canoos there, will carry 200 Men; matted Sails to them, and Cordage twisted from a wild Vine that grows in plenty about the Country; with these they pass frequently from _Congo_ to _Loango_. A Slave-Ship in the former River would intercept much of the Trade to _Cabenda_ and _Angola_: The Duties are easy with the King of _Soni_, and the Harmony they live in with a few defenceless _Portuguese_ Missionaries, shews they are a peaceable People.

A _Second_ Requisite for Success in this Trade, is an acquaintance with the Places, what may be expected at them, either as to the _Manner_ of Trading, bold or fearful of one another, and the Number of Slaves they are able to bring.

Where the _Company_’s Factors are settled, as at _Gambia_, and along the greatest part of the Gold Coast, they influence the Trade something against private Ships; so also at _Sierraleon_ some separate Traders live, who voyage it with Boats into the adjacent Rivers, and most of what a Ship can purchase, is thro’ their hands; but those from _London_ seldom strike higher upon the Coast than Cape _Mount_, _Montzerado_, and _Junk_, falling from thence down to Leeward; many of the places in their Course being rendered dangerous, from the Tricks and _Panyarrs_ the Traders have first practised upon the _Negroes_; a mutual Jealousy now keeping each side very watchful against Violence. We trade on board the Ship, often keeping our Sailors in close quarters abaft, because few: while the Slaves are viewing and contracting for at the fore part; at night also keeping a good Watch, some of these _Negroes_ attempting now and then to steal with their Canoos athwart your Hawse, and cut the Cable. Captain _Cummin_ at _Whydah_, they stranded 1734.

They again, are as often diffident of coming nigh us, and will play for hours together in their Canoos about the Ship, before they dare venture. In this windward part, I have before observed, they have a superstitious Custom, of dropping with their Finger a drop of Sea-Water in their Eye, which they are pleased when answered in, and passes for an Engagement of Peace and Security; and yet after all this Ceremony, they will sometimes return to shore: If hardy enough to come on board, they appear all the time shy and frightned, and from the least appearance of a _Panyarr_, jump all over board. Downwards to _Bassam_, _Assinee_, _Jaquelahou_, Cape _le Hou_, _Jaque a Jaques_, Cape _Apollonia_, and _Three Points_, or where they have possibly gained a Knowledge of the _English_ Factorys, there is a better Understanding and Security: These are places that sell off a number of Slaves, managed however wholly on board the Ships who anchor before the Town, hoist their Ensign, and fire a Gun: Or when the Natives seem timorous, do it by their Boats coasting along the Beach, and pay at some of them a small Duty to the chief _Cabiceers_.

_Thirdly_, To give dispatch, cajole the Traders with _Dashees_ of Brandy, and tell them, you cannot possibly stay above a day or two, and that on their account. To a Country-Man, if he joins where there is prospect of _Goodee_ Trade, you are to form some Story that may carry him farther to Leeward if possible, (two or three Leagues will hinder his doing you any Damage for that Voyage.) The Lye did me most Service, and for which I had the Merchant’s Dispensation, was informing my good Friend that at _Cobelahou_ they had taken a great number of Captives, and that Captain —— had got his Freight there in ten days: this I did with an air of Diffidence, to make the greater Impression, and at the same time _dashee’d_ his _Negro_ Friends to go on board and back it. If on better Intelligence such like Story should not take, and he resolves to stay and share, your Reputation is secured by the diffidence of your Report, and you must resolve with him now upon a Price in your Slaves, not to outbid one another; but at the same time make as strong a Resolution not to observe it. And here the Master has room to display his talent, the frequency of the Trick having made all very cautious and diffident.

When a Ship has gathered up all this Trade, she makes up the deficiency of her Freight at _Anamaboo_, three Leagues below Cape _Corso_, where they constantly stop, and are sometimes two or three Months in finishing. It is a place of very considerable Trade in itself; and besides, the _Company_ have a House and Factor, keeping always a number of Slaves against those demands of the Interlopers, who, they are sensible, want dispatch, and therefore make them pay a higher Price for it than any where on the whole Coast; selling at six Ounces and a half a Slave (in exchange for Goods) tho’ the poor Creatures look as meagre and thin as their Writers.

If the _Company_ should want rather to buy than sell, as is sometimes the case, and fits both; then such a difference is paid by the _General_, as shall make it worth the Ship’s time to go to Windward again.

Hence I make this deduction, that if the Adventurers Stock be small, only sufficient to employ one Vessel, to have her a Sloop; because less hazard is run in lengthning out time, which subjects to Sickness and Mortality among the Slaves; saves the aggregate Charge of supporting them and a Ship’s Company, and likewise such a Vessel will have less remains of Cargo, after her Slaving is compleated; what is left, usually going off to the trading _Cabiceers_ and Factories at a low Price, or what is worse, kept on board and spoiled.

Contrarily, great Traders who can imploy many Ships, obviate in a great measure such Inconveniencies: They put the Trade of two or three Ships into one at _Anamaboo_, (the largest and most chargeable) and with the conjunction of their remains, go to Windward, and begin anew.

_Fourthly_, giving way to the ridiculous Humours and Gestures of the trading _Negroes_, is no small artifice for Success. If you look strange and are niggardly of your Drams, you frighten him; _Sambo_ is gone, he never cares to treat with dry Lips, and as the Expence is in _English_ Spirits of two Shillings a Gallon, brought partly for that purpose; the good Humour it brings them into, is found discounted in the Sale of Goods.

A _fifth_ Article, is the wholesome Victualling, and Management of Slaves on board.

The common, cheapest, and most commodious Diet, is with Vegetables, Horse-Beans, Rice, _Indian_ Corn, and Farine, the former, Ships bring with them out of _England_; Rice, they meet to Windward, about _Sesthos_; _Indian_ Corn, at _Momford_, _Anamaboo_, &c. and further Supplies of them, or Farine, at the Islands of _St. Thomas_, and _Prince’s_; Masters governing themselves in purchasing, according to the Course they design to steer.

This Food is accounted more salutary to Slaves, and nearer to their accustomed way of Feeding than salt Flesh. One or other is boiled on board at constant times, twice a day, into a Dab-a-Dab[33] (sometimes with Meat in it) and have an Overseer with a Cat-of-nine-tails, to force it upon those that are sullen and refuse.

The further Management and Caution to be taken with Slaves on board, till their delivery in the _West-Indies_, I shall intermix with what I know of the method of Trade at _Whydah_, and _Angola_, because Cautions where a Cargo is of one Language, is so much the more requisite.

_Whydah_ is the greatest trading Place on the Coast of _Guinea_, selling off as many Slaves, I believe, as all the rest together; 40 or 50 Sail (_French_, _English_, _Portuguese_, and _Dutch_) freighting thence every year. The King is absolute as a Boar; making sometimes fair Agreements with his Country Neighbours, it being often the Interest of Traders to be honest (perhaps the only reason that makes them so) but if he cannot obtain a sufficient number of Slaves that way, he marches an Army, and depopulates. He, and the King of _Ardra_ adjoining, commit great Depredations inland.

On the Ships he lays these Impositions, and to prove his Folly, does it mostly for the benefit of those that rule him; _First_, of having the Refusal of all Goods; _Secondly_, the Value of twenty Slaves from every Ship, small or great, as a Duty; and _Thirdly_, forces his own upon them at an advanced Price.

The _French_, _Dutch_, and _English_, have each a House, or mud Fort, about three Miles from the Sea, keeping Tents at the Beach for the convenient receiving and securing their Cargoes as it comes from the Ship, and transmitting the Returns; which, by a dangerous double Barr upon the Coast, is rendred impassable sometimes (by the alteration of the Winds) for a fortnight together; the _Negroes_ only know how to paddle thro’ it, and when they think it safe, a Signal is made to the Ships, from those Tents, by hoisting their Flags.

The chief of either Factory that gets first on board any Ship coming into the Road, has a right to serve her with Boats and Servants, and has a Due of seven Slaves for it.

The Commanders, with their Surgeons, (as skilled in the Choice of Slaves) attend the whole time on shore, where they purchase, in what they call a fair open Market.

The Mates reside on board, receiving from time to time their Master’s Directions as to the Goods wanted, and to prepare the Ship for the Reception and Security of the Slaves sent him; where this is a Rule always observed, _to keep the Males apart from the Women and Children, to handcuff the former; Bristol Ships triple such as are sturdy, with Chains round their Necks_; and to keep your own Men sober, and on a barricado’d Quarter-deck: tho’ the natural Cowardice of these Creatures, and no other Prospect upon _rising_, but falling into the hands of the same Rogues that sold them, very much lessens the Danger: Nevertheless, it is adviseable at all times, to have a diligent Watch on their Actions, yet (abating their Fetters) to treat them with all Gentleness and Civility.

At _Angola_, the first Man is the King, the second, _Mabuca_, third, _Mafucar_, fourth, _Machangee_, fifth, Captain _More_, and the sixth, Madam _Barsse_; Names expressive of some [34]Virtue; and where they chuse a white Man’s, (common at many parts of the Coast) it is from the Qualities they admire in such, and strive to imitate.

Here they force about twenty Servants, which the Ship is obliged to pay, after the rate of six Fathom of _Guinea_ Cloth _per_ month, and every _Sunday_ Morning, two Knives to each of them.—Their Business is to attend every Morning, and carry up your Goods safe to the Factory, where others take the Charge, and are accountable for all Losses.