Some Historical Account of Guinea | Page 8

factories,
from whence, by means of the Negro sailors, a trade is carried on above
seven hundred miles back in the inland country; whereby great
numbers of slaves are procured, as well by means of the wars which
arise amongst the Negroes, or are fomented by the Europeans, as those
brought from the back country. Here we find the natives _more
reconciled to the European manners and trade_; but, at the same time,
much more inured to war, and ready to assist the European traders in
procuring loadings for the great number of vessels which come yearly
on those coasts for slaves. This part of Guinea is agreed by historians to
be, in general, _extraordinary fruitful and agreeable_; producing
(according to the difference of the soil) vast quantities of rice and other
grain; plenty of fruit and roots; palm wine and oil, and fish in great
abundance, with much tame and wild cattle. Bosman, principal factor
for the Dutch at D'Elmina, speaking of the country of Axim, which is
situate towards the beginning of the Gold Coast, says,[A] "The Negro
inhabitants are generally very rich, driving a great trade with the
Europeans for gold. That they are industriously employed either in
trade, fishing, or agriculture; but chiefly in the culture of rice, which
grows here in an incredible abundance, and is transported hence all
over the Gold Coast. The inhabitants, in lieu, returning full fraught with
millet, jamms, potatoes, and palm oil." The same author speaking of the
country of Ante, says,[B] "This country, as well as the Gold Coast,
abounds with hills, enriched with extraordinary high and beautiful trees;
its valleys, betwixt the hills, are wide and extensive, producing in great
abundance very good rice, millet, jamms, potatoes, and other fruits, all

good in their kind." He adds, "In short, it is a land that yields its
manurers as plentiful a crop as they can wish, with great quantities of
palm wine and oil, besides being well furnished with all sorts of tame,
as well as wild beasts; but that the last fatal wars had reduced it to a
miserable condition, and stripped it of most of its inhabitants." The
adjoining country of Fetu, he says,[C] "was formerly so powerful and
populous, that it struck terror into all the neighbouring nations; but it is
at present so drained by continual wars, that it is entirely ruined; there
does not remain inhabitants sufficient to till the country, tho' it is so
fruitful and pleasant that it may be compared to the country of Ante just
before described; frequently, says that author, when walking through it
before the last war, I have seen it abound with fine well built and
populous towns, agreeably enriched with vast quantities of corn, cattle,
palm wine, and oil. The inhabitants all applying themselves without
any distinction to agriculture; some sow corn, others press oil, and
draw wine from palm trees, with both which it is plentifully stored."
[Footnote A: Bosman's description of the coast of Guinea, p, 5.]
[Footnote B: Idem, page 14.]
[Footnote C: Bosman, page 41.]
William Smith gives much the same account of the before-mentioned
parts of the Gold Coast, and adds, "The country about D'Elmina and
Cape Coast, is much the same for beauty and goodness, but more
populous; and the nearer we come towards the Slave Coast, the more
delightful and rich all the countries are, producing all sorts of trees,
fruits, roots, and herbs, that grow within the Torrid Zone." J. Barbot
also remarks,[A] with respect to the countries of Ante and Adom, "That
the soil is very good and fruitful in corn and other produce, which it
affords in such plenty, that besides what serves for their own use, they
always export great quantities for sale; they have a competent number
of cattle, both tame and wild, and the rivers abundantly stored with fish,
so that nothing is wanting for the support of life, and to make it easy."
In the Collection it is said,[B] "That the inland people on that part of
the coast, employ themselves in tillage and trade, and supply the
market with corn, fruit, and palm wine; the country producing such vast

plenty of Indian corn, that abundance is daily exported, as well by
Europeans as Blacks resorting thither from other parts." "These inland
people are said to live in great union and friendship, being generally
well tempered, civil, and tractable; not apt to shed human blood, except
when much provoked, and ready to assist one another."
[Footnote A: John Barbot's description of Guinea, page 154.]
[Footnote B: Astley's collect. vol. 2. page 535.]
In the Collection[A] it is said, "That the fishing business is esteemed on
the Gold Coast next to trading; that those who profess it are more
numerous than those of other employments.