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African Memoranda. 7$ women, I had proposed* that the cutter and long boat should be employed in exploring the channels between the islands of Jul 7 2 * Areas, Gallinas, and Bulama, and the mouth of the Rio Grande, but this had been over-ruled. When, however, we had arrived at the mouth of that river, prior to our sailing for Canabac, I again proposed, and it was agreed to, that two boats should be daily employed in examining the shores of the island,f during our absence for its purchase ; but that, to avoid the appearance of injustice or aggression, for which we had already so dearly paid, no person should be permitted to land until the purchase was completed. On our return, however, we found that measures, the very reverse of these, had been pursued. No boats had been sent to explore; but a fishing party, under the protection of twenty armed men, had been daily landed to haul the Seine; it is true they procured a quantity of fish, but it was by an act of injus tice ; and they remained ignorant of what it behoved them most particularly to know—the best place for mooring the ships dur ing the rains ; and for building a town. Having now a right to land, and cut down timber, and erect buildings, I had supposed that after our treaty had been pub licly read to the colonists, which took place at 10 o’clock this morning, we should have gone seriously to work in clearing away the woods, and erecting our houses; and that the council had of course been prepared with some plan for carrying it into effect, with order and celerity. Accustomed as I had been to the weakness, folly, and absurdity of the measures hitherto pur sued by the directors of this enterprise, yet I was astonished, I 1 r * Minutes of the council, the 8th of June, 1792. + Ibid, the 24th of June, 1792. L 2