Some Historical Account of Guinea | Page 7

the coast of Guinea_. In the
Collection, they are said[A] to be averse to drinking to excess, and such
as do, are severely punished by the King's order: On enquiry why there
is such a disagreement in the character given of these people, it appears,
that though they are naturally inclined to be kind to strangers, with
whom they are fond of trading, yet the frequent injuries done them by
Europeans, have occasioned their being suspicious and shy. The same
cause has been the occasion of the ill treatment they have sometimes
given to innocent strangers, who have attempted to trade with them. As
the Europeans have no settlement on this part of Guinea, the trade is
carried on by signals from the ships, on the appearance of which the
natives usually come on board in their canoes, bringing their gold-dust,
ivory, &c. which has given opportunity to some villainous Europeans
to carry them off with their effects, or retain them on board till a
ransom is paid. It is noted by some, that since the European voyagers
have carried away several of these people, their mistrust is so great, that
it is very difficult to prevail on them to come on board. William Smith
remarks,[B] "As we past along this coast, we very often lay before a
town, and fired a gun for the natives to come off, but no soul came near
us; at length we learnt by some ships that were trading down the coast,
that the natives came seldom on board an English ship, for fear of being
detained or carried off; yet last some ventured on board, but if those
chanced to spy any arms, they would all immediately take to their
canoes, and make the best of their way home. They had then in their
possession one Benjamin Cross the mate of an English vessel, who was
detained by them to make reprisals for some of their men, who had
formerly been carried away by some English vessel." In the Collection

we are told,[C]_This villainous custom is too often practised, chiefly by
the Bristol and Liverpool ships, and is a great detriment to the slave
trade on the windward coast. John Snock, mentioned in Bosman_[D]
when on that coast, wrote, "We cast anchor, but not one Negro coming
on board, I went on shore, and after having staid a while on the strand,
some Negroes came to me; and being desirous to be informed why they
did not come on board, I was answered that about two months before,
the English had been there with two large vessels, and had ravaged the
country, destroyed all their canoes, plundered their houses, and carried
off some of their people, upon which the remainder fled to the inland
country, where most of them were that time; so that there being not
much to be done by us, we were obliged to return on board.[E] When I
enquired after their wars with other countries, they told me they were
not often troubled with them; but if any difference happened, they
chose rather to end the dispute amicably, than to come to arms."[F] He
found the inhabitants civil and good-natured. Speaking of the _King of
Rio Seftré_ lower down the coast, he says, "He was a very agreeable,
obliging man, and that all his subjects are civil, as well as very
laborious in agriculture, and the pursuits of trade," Marchais says,[G]
"That though the country is very populous, yet none of the natives
(except criminals) are sold for slaves." Vaillant never heard of any
settlement being made by the Europeans on this part of _Guinea_; and
Smith remarks,[H] "That these coasts, which are divided into several
little kingdoms, and have seldom any wars, is the reason the slave trade
is not so good here as on the Gold and Slave Coast, where the
Europeans have several forts and factories." A plain evidence this, that
it is the intercourse with the Europeans, and their settlements on the
coast, which gives life to the slave trade.
[Footnote A: Collection, vol. 2, page 560.]
[Footnote B: W. Smith, page 111.]
[Footnote C: Astley's collection, vol. 2, page 475.]
[Footnote D: W. Bosman's description of Guinea, page 440.]
[Footnote E: W. Bosman's description of Guinea, page 429.]

[Footnote F: Ibid, 441.]
[Footnote G: Astley's collection, Vol. 2, page 565.]
[Footnote H: Smith's voyage to Guinea, page 112.]
Next adjoining to the Ivory Coast, are those called the Gold Coast, and
the _Slave Coast_; authors are not agreed about their bounds, but their
extent together along the coast may be about five hundred miles. And
as the policy, produce, and oeconomy of these two kingdoms of Guinea
are much the same, I shall describe them together.
Here the Europeans have the greatest number of forts and