Chapter I: Introduction

A curiosity throughout Europe, proportionate to the ignorance of the Interior of Africa, exacts the publication of the proceedings and researches of every Exploratory Mission, from its Conductor, as a duty to the Public: “mandat fieri sibi talia.”

The Public, in acknowledgment of the performance of the duty, reflecting that it constrains literary efforts which the Author otherwise might never have presumed to expose, should sympathise in his diffidence and anxiety, and receive and review them as a task imposed, and not as a spontaneous essay.

If this indulgence is due even to gentlemen who have had the most enviable opportunities of qualifying themselves at the expense of a liberal Government, it is surely secure to one who never enjoyed those advantages; but, being suddenly called to the immediate conduct of a Mission, originated by a public Board of very contracted means, when estranged from all facilities, had no resource to aid his realization of the scientific desiderata, beyond the acquirements common to most private gentlemen.

The vessel in which I am making my passage to England having been chartered to trade in the River Gaboon, which is immediately on the Line, I diverted a tedious delay of seven weeks in so unhealthy a situation, by visiting Naängo, a town about fifty miles from the mouth of the River, where I collected Geographical Accounts of the Interior, from several intelligent traders, and numerous slaves from different countries. I have added this compilation, (as it may borrow some interest from the adjacency of the Congo,) with a few notices of the customs and productions of this ruder part of Africa.

CONTENTS.

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PART I.

CHAP. I.—The Objects and Departure of the Mission. 3

CHAP. II—The Route and Reception of the Mission. 14

CHAP. III.—Proceedings and Incidents until the Third 42
Dispatch to Cape Coast Castle.

CHAP. IV.—Proceedings and Incidents until the Signing of 101
the Preliminaries to a General Treaty.

CHAP. V.—Proceedings and Incidents until the Ratification 118
of a General Treaty.

CHAP. VI.—Proceedings and Incidents until the completion of 131
the Mission and its return to Cape Coast Castle.

PART II.

CHAP. I.—Geography. 161

CHAP. II.—History. 228

CHAP. III.—Constitution and Laws. 252

CHAP. IV.—Superstitions. 261

CHAP. V.—Customs. 274

CHAP. VI.—Architecture, Arts, and Manufactures. 304

CHAP. VII.—Climate, Population, Revenue, City, Market, &c. 315

CHAP. VIII.—Trade. 330

CHAP. IX.—Language. 344

CHAP. X.—Music. 361

CHAP. XI.—Materia Medica and Diseases. 370

CHAP. XII.—Mr. Hutchison’s Diary. 381

CHAP. XIII.—Sketch of Gaboon, and its Interior. 422

CHAP. XIV.—Suggestions for future Missions to the Interior 453
of Africa.