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
African Memoranda. 31 peans, that the arrival of a single ship should produce sur-^ prize, and excite curiosity in its inhabitants: this arises from Mays, its want of a good anchorage for shipping, which deprives it of all direct commerce with Europe. Its produce and live stock, of which a great deal is reared on the island, is always sent to Santa Cruz in Teneriffe, by small vessels which pass daily be tween those two islands; so that the merchants of Santa Cruz purchase the whole exported produce of the Grand Canaria, and come in between the productors and the merchants of Europe to the great disadvantage of that island. To which may be added that the governor-general, who formerly resided at Palmas in Canaria, now makes his residence at Santa Cruz in Teneriffe, to the manifest prejudice of the former. A few small craft employed in fishing for their own consumption, on the neighbouring coast of Africa, is the only other trade, if such it can be called, carried on by the inhabitants of this island. The next morning the wind became favourable, which, as 6th. the necessity of anchoring at Canaria was therefore done away, enabled us to sail directly for Teneriffe, and it became necessary to reland the pilots ; at the same time it was thought advisable for me to go with them, and explain to the governor the cause of our not anchoring, to thank him for having sent them, and to bring off the refreshments which he had promised should be ready for me in the morning. In doing this no obstacle was foreseen, indeed it was almost impossible to conceive that any difficulties could arise from my going on shore merely to do an act of civility, and which my reception yesterday certainly did not absolutely demand; however I had many to encounter, which, with a little firmness and perseverance, I at last sur mounted.