Observations Upon The Windward Coast Of Africa

rra Leone.-Embarks for the West Indies-Lands at the Colony of Demerory.-Some Observations on the Productions of that Colon

5th we weighed and passed the bar of the Rio Pongo, steering our course f

tants; Crawford's has two factories for trade, belonging to gentlemen formerly in the service of the Sierra Leone Company; and Factory Island has an American establishment, conducted by a Mr. Fisk, These are the principal (the others being little more than barren rocks), and they abound in vegetat

posed to the predatory excursions of the enemy, who have frequ

e sailed with a fresh breeze in expectation of gaining the entrance by the approach of night; but we were obliged to anchor in the open sea, amidst the most awful peals of thunder, while the whole heaven displayed nothing but vivid flashes of lightning. Amidst this tremendous scene, exposed to the mercy of the waves, with the prospect of being deluged by rain, we secured our little bark and ourselves, in the best manner our circumstances woul

ut soon increased to a brisk gale, accompanied by thunder, lightning and rain; we were driven with great impetuosity through the narrow channel between the bar and the shore, and from the shallowness of the water, the rollers continually broke over our heads, threatening our destruction every moment. Providentially we surmounted these dangers, and at 5 P.M. entered the river, which is interspersed with islands and picturesque

om a residence of upwards of 32 years on the coast, he possesses much intelligence and valuable information relative to t

of trade in

inwall,

ck chief and tra

opa, attached t

Thomas's I

factories attached to

s with; and after a very tedious and tempestuous passage, arrived at Sierra Leone on the 21st, having had con

f Africa, and experienced the medical assista

nied by dysentery, which reduced me to the lowest state of existence; and after one of the most distressing and disagreeable voyages I ever exp

heir subsequent kind conduct, can never be effaced from my memory. Captain Brown soon joined us, and in the most engaging terms we were invited to become inmates with Mr. McCrea and his partner, which we availed ourselves of during our stay in Demerary. A few days after, I became acquainted with Mr. Alexander McCrea, brother to my kind host

ty of the soil is capable of raising any tropical production; new sources being daily unfolded, of the immense wealth derivable from these colonies,

g of sixty sail of various burthen a

of sugar. 203

do. 39,701 B

ns rum. 336 H

5 lbs. w

10s. per puncheon; coffee 1s. per lb.; cotton ￡20. per bale of 3 cwt; and molasses

anting to augment it to an inconceivable extent. How valuable then do these col

y would produce an accumulated export infinitely beyond the present computation, a

erior, and being thinly inhabited, are attainable with grea

military force to defend them, and being almost without naval protection; they had literally only an armed brig an

to great amount. Of the latter, an individual planter at Berbice, from a nursery of 500,000 trees had 138,000 bea

t magnitude in the estimation of our colonial possessions, and if they are to revert to their former proprietors, it evidently should be for no mean equivalent; and it is but justice to say, that when I was in this part of the world, the apparent negligence in the protection and jurisdict

settlements of South America, from whence, in the existing situation of Europe, the insatiate ambition of our inveterate enemy derives an important sinew of finance, which ner

n in this lucrative portion of the globe, which might lead to a decisive termin

friend, fellow voyager and traveller, Captain Brown, I embarked at noon on board the ship Admiral Nelson, the command of which he h

e came to an anchor in the harbour of Grenada, on th

ntry within their recollection, with the utmost extacy they would say, "eh! you look that, massa?" I then assured them I had, and described the pullam, or palm tree, in their native town: the effect of this remembrance was instantaneous, and demonstrated by the most extravagant expressions of delight. Conceiving that I had attained my object, and being persuaded that the transportation of these people was an oppressive transgression agains

milar answer, and it is a convincing proof that, by humane treatment, the condition of the s

edical gentleman of respectability at Demerary, that, that ravager of the human species, the yellow fever, was first imported into this island from the islan

led with the fleet under convoy of the La Seine frigat