with a brief notice of the neighbouring tribes, soil, productions, &c. and some observations on the facility of Colonizing that part of Africa, with a View to Cultivation; and the introduction of letters and religion to its inhabitants: but more particularly as the means of gradually abolishing African Slavery relative to an attempt to establish a British Settlement on the Island of Bulama, on the Western Coast of Africa, in the year 1792
with a brief notice of the neighbouring tribes, soil, productions, &c. and some observations on the facility of Colonizing that part of Africa, with a View to Cultivation; and the introduction of letters and religion to its inhabitants: but more particularly as the means of gradually abolishing African Slavery relative to an attempt to establish a British Settlement on the Island of Bulama, on the Western Coast of Africa, in the year 1792
30 African Memoranda. t road with the inhabitants in their rear. When we had arrived May 5. within about 20 yards of them we were ordered to stop, and the interpreter, placed half way between them and us, was or dered by the governor to ask whence I came, and what I wanted ; to which having replied, he said that we should have every refreshment required, but that as the day was far spent I could not receive any thing to night except a pilot, whom he would send with me to bring the . ship into port, and that on the morrow whatever I had ordered should be ready ; he more over begged that I would not consider myself as having been a prisoner during the time that I had been shut up in the tower, as that was a measure merely of precaution for my safety ; which he otherwise could not have answered for as the inhabi tants were unaccustomed to see strangers on the island. It would have been very difficult for him to have convinced me that I had not been a prisoner, and very unjustly and un worthily treated ; but as the great object of my landing was accomplished in his ready compliance with my demands, and as he seemed inclined to explain away the harshness of my recep tion, I said nothing more on the subject, satisfied with the prospect of receiving essential benefits, without entering into discussions which neither my situation nor circumstances demanded. My boat was immediately launched by some fisherman, and three pilots were ordered into it, though one was all I asked, with whom I reached the ship about an hour after dark. It appears singular that the island which gives name to the cluster called the Canaries, which alone of them all has a city, and which till very lately has been the residence of the gover nor-general, should have so little communication with Euro-