^-71 
 
 ■MS 
 
 UC-NRLF 
 
 *B S?T 31fi 
 
THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
Or PA}^i OF 
 
 ACCOUNT 
 
 OF 
 
 A VOYAGE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 WESTERN COAST 
 
 OF 
 
 AFRICA; 
 
 PERFORMED BY 
 
 HIS MAJESTY'S SLOOP FAVOURITE, 
 
 In the Year 1805. 
 
 BEING A JOURNAL OF THE EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED TO THAT 
 
 VESSEL, FROM THE TIME OF HER LEAVING ENGLAND TILL HER 
 
 CAPTURE BY THE FRENCH, AND THE RETURN OF 
 
 THE AUTHOR IN A CARTEL. 
 
 BY F. B. ;SPILSBURY, 
 
 SURGEON TO THE FAVOURITE, 
 
 AND AUTHOR OF PICTURESQUE TRAVELS IN SYRIA, &C. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 LONDON : 
 PRINTED FOR EICHAED PHILLIPS, 6, bridge street, 
 
 BLACKFRIARS, 
 
 By J. G. Barnard, 57, Snow-hill. 
 1807. 
 
 '^Crt\-9. 
 
/»^..''7 •• 
 
PART REPRINT, WITH 
 
 DRXSNNANS COMPTS 
 
 ACCOUNT 
 
 OF 
 
 A VOYAGE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 WESTERN COAST 
 
 OF 
 
 AFRICA; 
 
 PERFORMED BY 
 
 HIS MAJESTY s SLOOP FAVOURITE, 
 
 In the Year 1805. 
 
 BEING A JOURNAL OF THE EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED TO THAT 
 
 VESSEL, FROM THE TIME OF HER LEAVING ENGLAND TILL HER 
 
 CAPTURE BY THE FRENCH, AND THE RETURN OF 
 
 THE AUTHOR IN A CARTEL. 
 
 BY F. B. [SPILSBURY, 
 
 SUEOEON TO THE FAVOURITE, 
 
 AND AUTHOR OF PICTURESQUE TRAVELS IN SYRIA, &C. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 LONDON : 
 PRINTED FOR EICHAED PHILLIPS, 6, bridge street, 
 
 BLACKFRIARS, 
 
 By J. G. Barnard^ 57, Snow-hill. 
 1807. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2008 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/accountofvoyagetOOspilrich 
 
DTfTI 
 S"7 5 
 
 VOYAGE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 WESTERN COAST OP AFRICA. 
 
 fXN Sunday September the 22nd, 1805, his majesty's sloop 
 ^ Favourite got under weigh from St. Helen's, about eleven 
 o'clock, A.M. under the orders of Capt. K. Maxwell, of his 
 majesty's ship Arab, with five vessels in company ; and on the 
 24th about seven P.M. we took our departure from the 
 Lizzard, bearing N. ^ W. distant about five leagues. It was at 
 first understood that we were to proceed to the West Indies, 
 but after various orders and equipments, we at length re- 
 ceived a final one for the African station. I was now supplied 
 in my department with a double allowance of bark, and such 
 other medicaments as are requisite for a climate so fatal to 
 Europeans as that to which we were destined. 
 
 Nov. 2nd. Cape Blanco bore E. by S. f S. distant 131 miles. 
 
 Nov. 3d. Mustered the ship's company at quarters, and 
 read the articles of war to them ; as is customary at least once 
 a month. A great number of flying fish were seen flying round 
 us. 
 
 Nov. 4th. Eead the articles of war to the ship's company, 
 and the captain cautioned them on the preservation of their 
 health. We at length made Cape Verd, passed the large 
 Bird's Island, and dropt anchor before the town of Goree. 
 
 GOEEE. 
 
 Before anchoring we sent the cutter with our sub-lieu- 
 tenant on shore, with a flag of truce, for fear the French 
 might have possession of the island. Saw our convoy lying in 
 the roads. The boat returned with compliments from the 
 governor, and that he would be glad to see the captain on 
 shore. Goree is almost a barren rock : the inhabitants get 
 nearly all the provisions from the Main-land. The governor's 
 name is Lloyd, He 'has established some good regulations 
 
4 SPILSBURY S VOYAGE TO AFRICA. 
 
 among them. By cutting their dollars into four parts, he keeps 
 the specie on the island, which before was always drained 
 from it. Nor will he allow bodies to be buried there for fear of 
 infection, but has them sent over to the Main, where they are 
 generally dug up and devoured by the tigers and other wild 
 beasts. The lady of the captain of the African regiment told 
 a pathetic tale of the loss of two of her children, whose 
 corpses they were obliged to smuggle into the fort. The riches 
 of the inhabitants consist of slaves, each house having a slave 
 yard, with huts for them ; among the female slaves are many 
 elegant figures, and some of the mulatto women are real 
 beauties. Most Europeans form temporary attachments 
 when they come to this island ; and so very chaste are the 
 women that none have ever been known to attempt other 
 connexions while they think their husband survives, even 
 thoug*h he may have left the island. The slaves of both sexes 
 are naked, except the piece of cloth which passes round the 
 loins. The females do all the drudgery, such as beating com, 
 &c., with their children at their backs : this operation is per- 
 formed in a wooden mortar, with a large pestle ; and to shew 
 their agility, the women clap their hands while it flies up- 
 wards. There are continual importations of slaves from the 
 Main-land. 
 
 About 190 of the African rifle-corps are stationed here, the 
 remains of a body, the rest of which have fallen a prey to the 
 climate; among them are some fine-looking men. An anec- 
 dote was told me of a person of rank on the island, which is 
 deserving of notice, as it shews how far human nature may 
 be degraded, when we are deprived of our finer feelings. The 
 governor had a good horse, which this gentleman remarking, 
 said with great sang-^roid, " was worth four slaves," and 
 offered to purchase it at that price. 
 
 It was now a most healthy season, the commencement of 
 iheir winter. We frequently sent the boat to the Main-land, 
 which always returned with plenty of excellent fish of various 
 kinds. Our people were obliged to use the utmost caution for 
 fear of the sharks, which are of a large size, and swarm round 
 the island; I have seen them from eight to ten feet long. 
 Natives of the Main come over to Goree, with all kinds of pro- 
 visions, in a small canoe, shaxp at each end and flat 
 bottomed, but raised in the fore part. Some have one sail, 
 others two, which are cut in what the sailors call shoulder 
 of mutton fashion : the canoe is a solid body of a tree 
 hollowed out, and simple as it is, they sail very fast, and the 
 owners steer them in a wonderful manner with their paddles ; 
 but by no temptation would they be attracted near us. 
 
SPILSBURY S VOYAGE TO AFRICA. 5 
 
 The in'habitants of Goree are not jet black, but a mixture. 
 There are about 300 vessels continually trading up the river 
 Gambia for slaves, which, from the best authenticated 
 accounts, are procured in the following manner: If a prince 
 wants a commodity of any kind, and it requires more than he 
 is worth to pay for it, he destroys a village, seizes its poor in- 
 habitants, and sells them : they weep bitterly at first, but are 
 soon reconciled to their unfortunate situation. Their prin- 
 cipal chief is the prince of Marabou; his subjects are jet 
 black. The small town which the kings of Marabou reside in, 
 is surrounded with a mean wall : they have an idea that this 
 wall is a charm, or, as they term it, a griggery Or grisgris ; and 
 they think that should any enemies presume to come over it, 
 the houses themselves would fall and destroy them. A 
 neighbouring prince offered to the governor of Goree a hun- 
 dred slaves, if he would permit our African soldiers to storm 
 it first; however, one of the enemy contrived to get over, and 
 stabbed one of the king's sons. 
 
 On this coast, it frequently happens that a large tree in a 
 town becomes a grisgris, and some princes who are under a 
 fittish will not go on board a ship, or on an island, from an 
 idea that they will sink immediately on setting their foot on 
 it, while others suppose they will die if they see salt water. 
 They are in general covered with such charms : among the 
 Jolofs, Mandingos, &c., who are Mahometans, they consist 
 of pieces of the Alcoran, covered with leather, or some other 
 relic; nor do they suppose they ever can err, but attribute 
 everything to the ill conduct of those who have offended 
 them. 
 
 There is a law in Goree, that if any man murders a slave, 
 he shall buy another to make good the owner's loss. 
 
 At the moment of my writing this, the 10th of November, 
 it is so very sickly on the river, that a slave-ship has sent in 
 word, they have lost all hands. 
 
 Bird's Island is larger than Goree, and produces a quantity 
 of cotton, wild ; but no water is to be got there. There is one 
 small bay, the entrance to which might be easier defended 
 than Goree, and the whole of it might be made a garden. One 
 person from Goree built a house on it, being discontented 
 with 'his former situation ; but he left it for want of water. 
 
 On the 11th, Mr. Guy and myself went on shore; a shot 
 was fired over the town from a battery on the hill, which is 
 an annual custom, importing that the healthy season had 
 commenced. If this custom had been neglected, it would 
 'have given rise to unpleasant conjectures, as the inhabitants, 
 as may be supposed from what has been said, are very super- 
 
6 SPILSBURY'S voyage to AFRICA. 
 
 stitious. In the evening a ball was given, at which there was 
 certainly a numerous and beautiful assemblage. We were 
 also at a wedding; the bride, a beautiful black girl, was intro- 
 duced to us; she was veiled, and had a profusion of gold 
 ornaments about her; consisting of bracelets, rings, neck- 
 laces, &c. We were led to it by the sound of a drum, and the 
 clapping of hands; the company formed a ring; and each 
 woman by turns got into the middle, and danced; they made 
 the most hideous contortions of their features and limbs, after 
 which they joined in the circle. The next day they go in pro- 
 cession round the streets; the bride supported by one of her 
 friends, and the rest at intervals dancing round her, singing, 
 &c. ; this continues for some days, and even the governor 
 could not be excused from attending, the custom is so estab- 
 lished. If any officer or settler, of respectability, wants a 
 wife, he must court the girl a month, and then give what 
 they call a great dinner; inviting all her relations, and keep- 
 ing open house for some days; this, of course, is extremely 
 expensive, as it costs seldom less than two hundred pounds. 
 At the weddings of the poorer classes, each one of the com- 
 pany gives a piece of money ; I met my washerwoman going 
 to one with a dollar for that purpose. 
 
 The second remove, or mixture of a mulatto with a white, 
 produces children nearly of a white cast, or as they are called 
 by Europeans misters : I do not think the mulattoes in general 
 so handsome as the blacks. 
 
 November 12. The prince of Marabou this day paid us a 
 visit, and the captain presented him with an old cocked hat, 
 of which 'he was very proud — his brother Alexander, a 
 general, accompanied him. We found he owed the island 
 fifty slaves, and was on the point of commencing a war for 
 the express purpose of liquidating the debt. 
 
 This is the only place at which I heard of going to war for 
 slaves, and I am apt to think there is some mistake, as he was 
 a merchant, and more likely to purchase than otherwise. 
 He brought a milch-goat with him to sell, and kid, but as the 
 lady for whom it was intended was on shore, he would not 
 leave it, but took it into the boat with him. I have given him 
 a drawing of him, exactly as he was dressed. His brother 
 was a strong athletic man, had a fine open countenance, 
 which bespoke urbanity of manners; in short, we were all 
 fond of Alexander : he was almost covered with grisgns : his 
 worsted blue cap, with red hoops, had a most ludricous 
 appearance. 
 
 There are several ostriches kept on this island ; the governor 
 frequently hunts them on the parade with dogs. As soon as 
 
SPILSBURY S VOYAGE TO AFRICA. 7 
 
 the bird is produced he begins dancing, and at last sets off, 
 leaving the dogs far behind : he goes regularly to the bottom 
 of the parade and up again; setting the dogs at defiance, 
 whom he easily out-runs with the help of his wings ; nor can 
 they catch him. 
 
 Goree is a rock of iron stone ; the principal water they get 
 from the Main-land, as they have only one well on the island, 
 which is not nearly sufficient to supply their wants. The 
 established custom of not giving any woman leave to quit the 
 island after her marriage causes a number of widows to be 
 resident there, many of whom of course are young ones, their 
 husbands probably still living elsewhere. 
 
 Their dress is a wrapping petticoat, if such I may call it, 
 of white cotton with a coloured edge, and at the upper part a 
 narrow border of a finer sort ; this they lap two or three times 
 round them and tuck in ; such a garment costs seven dollars : 
 the rest consists of a chemise, over which a loose piece of 
 cotton cloth is carelessly wrapped, and a handkerchief round 
 the head. They are excessively fond of gold, and hide every 
 guinea or doubloon they can procure. It was here I first 
 tasted palm- wine, and I cannot say that I think it an un- 
 pleasant liquor. The ladies, if on the beach when it is 
 coming on shore from the Main, will hold out their hands to 
 have some poured in to drink. When new, it is very pleasant, 
 and looks like milk and water; but when kept a few days, is 
 very intoxicating. When new, the natives here are extremely 
 fond of it. 
 
 Washing on this island is charged at the rate of a dollar for 
 a dozen pieces, counting a handkerchief, &c., as a shirt. 
 They are beaten on stones, and then rinsed. This is the only 
 kind of washing in use, notwithstanding which, the articles 
 are bleached very white. 
 
 There is a law here which deserves mentioning. If a slave 
 is born on this island, he cannot be sold out of it, unless he 
 or she commits some considerable crime. It was here 
 governor Wall perpetrated the barbarous murder, for which 
 he suffered the sentence of the law. Both the event and the 
 punishment still continue in the memory of the inhabitants. 
 
 They are extremely fond of music ; and here as well as on 
 other parts of the coast, which I shall have occasion to men- 
 tion, they have hand-organs in their houses. It certainly is 
 a great change to an Englishman, when he witnesses the 
 customs at Madeira; but what must it be w'hen he lands at 
 Goree? It is impossible to describe the sensation at first 
 stepping on shore, where he finds everything so perfectly 
 different from European scenes; he is immediately sur- 
 
8 SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA 
 
 rounded by numerous black boys and girls, quite naked, and 
 skipping around him in play ; but not begging : the females 
 naked, especially the slaves; or with only a small rag round 
 their waists. 
 
 We were recommended to a free man, a Mr. Crew, where we 
 found the most liberal accommodations ; he had lost his wife, 
 and had a fine boy, who was a more perfect black than him- 
 self : at dinner I could not help looking round me at the 
 novelty of being waited on by boys and girls, nearly in a state 
 of nature ; indeed one named little Harry was quite an adept. 
 The above gentleman once lived at Sierra Leone ; and is well 
 known for the goodness of his disposition and pleasantness 
 of his manners : he had lately been in England, and intends 
 sending his son thither to finish his education. When our 
 boat went to the main land, to draw the seine for fish, the 
 prince always came down, and they invariably complimented 
 him with a few choice ones. Here we first began to give our 
 men bark in wine; a glass before they went, and another 
 when they returned, under the idea of preventing fever. 
 
 Whatever medical gentlemen may think of this practice, I 
 shall call it a hocus-pocus mode of driving away fever. I am 
 of opinion, it might be muc^h better reserved till another 
 opportunity, when it is really wanted, and might prove of 
 great utility. If, instead of this, the men were allowed 
 double the quantity of wine, it would be of more service; for 
 can any one seriously suppose, that a dram of bark, only 
 occasionally exhibited, can be of any advantage? Again, the 
 surgeon is by this, reducing his stock, when it cannot be re- 
 plenished, as here, money could not purchase it, though for 
 want of this useful tonic, his people were dying round him. 
 
 There is another circumstance necessary to be attended to 
 with respect to medicines at sea. All powders, especially 
 bark, should, w^hen sent to hot climates, be put into bottles, 
 well corked down, and then dipt in rosin or wax ; for it is well 
 known, that the loss of the virtues of this medicine in these 
 climates, is owing to its being exposed to the air. One proof 
 I shall lay before my readers — From Apothecaries '-hall I had 
 bark in jars ; with a bung and a wrapper tied over it : I had 
 also from the same place some in bottles, which I dipped in 
 rosin. When I opened them at Sierra Leone, there was a 
 wonderful difference in their quality, the jar did not smell 
 more aromatic than the small quantity in the bottles ; that in 
 the jar appeared to hang together as if mites were among it, 
 and, though the utmost care had been taken of it, it seemed 
 to be damp : samples from each were easily distinguished. 
 As this article is of such material consequence, I hope care 
 
SPILSBURY S VOYAGE TO AFRICA. \J 
 
 will be taken in future to bottle it in the same manner as the 
 lime juice, which latter might be curtailed on this station, as 
 limes and acid fruits are in plenty, and may be obtained for 
 the trouble of gathering. 
 
 Now I am on this subject, I hope I s'hall not be thought 
 tedious in mentioning some of our necessaries, as they are 
 termed, more especially the tea, if such I may call it, as is 
 allowed for a sailor when ill. This is supplied by contract, 
 and is of the very worst quality, being composed of the 
 sweepings of the ships' holds, or what would otherwise be 
 sold for dyeing. When water is added, should any one be 
 blind-folded, I defy 'him to tell what the infusion is, as it has 
 more of the taste of decayed hay, than any other thing I can 
 think of. Surely, if a sick sailor is to be allowed these neces- 
 saries for his comfort and speedy recovery, they should, to 
 say the least, be of good quality : I would ask if such 
 wretched stuff as I have now described, is worth v of a sur- 
 geon's oath, " That the necessaries have all been expended 
 far the use of the sick only? " I once sent some of the trash 
 to a late board; and received for answer, ** We have ex- 
 amined the tea and find it as good as the contract will 
 allow." There used also to be cocoa and spices allowed, but 
 these have vanished, and only a few races of ginger substi- 
 tuted for them. — I shall now proceed with my journal. 
 
 November 13th. At noon we left Goree, with the Mary 
 and Anderson; we were in lat. 130 12' N. long. 17^9' W. 
 Had on board Ensign Forbes and his lady, as passengers to 
 Sierra Leone. On the 14th, uncommonly large bats flew on 
 board — their heads like that of a fox, and their teeth very 
 large; but, on account of the cruelty of the sailors, we were 
 obliged to throw them overboard. We were from now till 
 the 22d, continually in soundings; during which time, a 
 large quantity of dolphins were swimming about the ship. 
 
 November. 18th. We had fine clear weather, rather inclin- 
 ing to calm. Great quantities of the Eemora or sucking fish, 
 under our stern, with the beautiful little pilot-fish, in shape 
 nearly resembling a perch : two or three of these constantly 
 attend the shark, playing about his fins, and under 'his belly, 
 when he is not in pursuit of any prey. Of these, the sailors 
 give the same account as the natural historians formerly did 
 of the jackall, or lion's provider; and it therefore bears that 
 name of pilot-fish : in the shark they always find a protector, 
 as they never swim to any distance from him. 
 
10 SPILSBURY'S voyage to AFRICA. 
 
 SIEEEA LEONE. 
 
 November 22d. Cloudy with showers of rain, thunder, and 
 lightning. Quarter past four P. M. let go our anc'hor in 12 
 fathom. At eight o'clock the Anderson fired two guns, and 
 made signal for land in the S. E. A beautiful bird flew on 
 board, it had blue wings and a red beak : at this time we 
 again anchored : lat. 8^ 36 ' N. 
 
 This evening the atmosphere was extremely mild with 
 lightning : the island is high in some places, on which the 
 clouds seem to rest. The point of Cape Sierra Leone was 
 clothed by numerous large trees. I do not know that I ever 
 saw so majestic and tremendous an appearance as was 
 formed by mountain towering over mountain, which, added 
 to the gloominess of the night, increased its horrors. By the 
 number of lights that appeared we were certain we were 
 near some large town. The captain stood on till a boat came 
 from the shore, by the people of whom we were informed of 
 the death of the governor. On the sides of the hills there are 
 elephants, tigers, tiger cats, &c., with a very large species of 
 monkey called Chimpanzee, which is near six feet 'high when 
 fall grown. He is very mischievous; when young, however, 
 he is most affectionate to men ; and cries like a child when he 
 misses his protector. A gentleman here gives a woman 
 10s. 6d per week to suckle one, in order to send it home. 
 There is also an insect which is at least equally alarming, a 
 sort of black ant. When they enter a house, the inhabitants 
 are obliged to leave it immediately; otherwise they would 
 devour them as they do everything else they meet with ; ser- 
 pents, rats, &c., &c. 
 
 November 23d. We came to an anchor off Free-town, and 
 at half past seven o'clock a boat came off and informed us 
 this was the principal town. It was quite dark. On our 
 landing we found that not only the governor was dead, but 
 also a captain of the African corps, who was to have been 
 tried by a court martial for some serious offence. They were 
 very sickly, and in great distress both for medicines and food. 
 The town is in a most romantic situation. At the back of it 
 the mountains are clothed with wood. Near it is another 
 town, commonly called Dalia Mooda; it is situated on the 
 side of a hill, covered with verdure. The natives are black, 
 but there is a great difference betwixt their dress and that of 
 the people of Goree; here the fashion of the women'y 
 cloaths somewhat resembles the costume of a Welsh girl, and 
 they are all exceedingly clean and neat. 
 
 In the inprning two canoes came alongside; though only 
 
SPILSBURY'S voyage to AFRICA. 11 
 
 the breadth of a man, there were three persons in each of 
 them kneeling and sitting, two paddled, while the third baled 
 the water out. The canoes appeared to be made of the bark 
 of trees; and were exceedingly light. This day some women 
 came on board to barter oranges, lemons, &c. ; they were ex- 
 tremely pleased to see Williams, the gun-room black cook, 
 whom they recollected by the name of Harris. There are 
 some crown-birds here, but they are very rare to be met with. 
 Ten dollars is the price asked for a bow and arrows, with ihe 
 quiver complete. The governor, a pale invalid, came on 
 board this morning, and politely invited us on shore; he at 
 the same time lamented the want of good bark, as they had 
 now none in the colony, and wished me to spare him some : I 
 supplied him with what I had from Apothecaries' -Hall on my 
 own account, in bottles. The colony is not at this time in a 
 very thriving condition. 
 
 I was informed that a few days before a large snake had 
 been killed, the carcase of which was as much as two men 
 could carry on a pole : they are very common, and it is a fact 
 that they can swallow leopards, bears, &c. There are also 
 two extremely large species of the alligator, which are nearly 
 twenty feet long; they swim between the ships, and pick up 
 any garbage that is thrown overboard : they were frequently 
 fired at, but a bullet will not penetrate them. The smaller 
 ones are very numerous. 
 
 November 25th. I dined with the governor, who related 
 some curious anecdotes of the reptiles just alluded to : in par- 
 ticular, of one of them destroying a sentry, and carrying him 
 fairly away : his musquet was found left behind on his post. 
 It came afterwards for the other sentry, but was driven away. 
 
 On the 27th of November we again weighed for the islands 
 de Los. On the 29th we had five men taken ill with fever: 
 they were attacked with pain in the head, vomiting, pain in 
 the bowels, and sometimes complained of pain all over t^he 
 body, attended with great lassitude and a slow, irritable, 
 quick pulse. In the evening we came to an anchor, and we 
 saw Cape Verga, bearing N. N. E. distant ten or twelve 
 leagues. In the afternoon of the 30th we anchored, tiding it 
 along shore, as the wind was contrary. During our passage a 
 female of Sierra Leone related to us the following story, 
 which will shew the spirit of revenge occasioned by jealousy 
 in the native women. A slave-trader kept a native girl, ol 
 whom he was extremely fond : one day unfortunately some 
 words arose, and he struck her over the eye; revenge imme- 
 diately took possession of her mind, nor did she make it any 
 secret fhat she was resolved to poison him. This the girl 
 
12 SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 
 
 who related the story perfectly understood, and warned the 
 gentleman of the fate that would attend him ; begging of him 
 not to permit her to cook his supper, but let the informant 
 perform that service : this with some difficulty he consented 
 to, still laughing at the idea of danger; but being soon after- 
 wards thirsty, he hastily called for a glass of water, which 
 was given to him by the native girl whom he had assaulted : 
 he drank it before the other could wrest the goblet from his 
 hands, and as soon as the deadly potion was administered 
 the native burst into a loud fit of laughter. Soon after the 
 victim clapped his hand to his breast, and exclaimed, " My 
 God ! I am poisoned ! ' ' The narrator immediately got him to 
 bed, and sent for his friends, but he expired in a few hours. 
 When his friends arrived and found 'him dead, they seized 
 the girl, put a chain round her neck, and sold her as a slave. 
 Another instance, in which the attempt, however, proved 
 abortive, is also worth relating. A black chief who lives near 
 Sierra Leone, married a settler of this colony, an American 
 black ; who by her attention and industry by trading for 'him 
 up the rivers, not only procured him riches, but respect and 
 attention from the colony. According to his country's 
 custom of having more wives than one, he took some from 
 among his own nation, who soon became jealous of the first 
 or head woman. ^ They attempted to poison her, but the 
 plot was discovered; on which she fled, first returning him 
 all his slaves and presents, declaring she never would cohabit 
 with him again. On the other hand he, almost distracted, 
 took every means of discovering her, but in vain. At last a 
 letter arrived from Liverpool, informing him of her affection 
 and death. It is here necessary to remark, that the natives 
 of this country 'have four or five wives in general, and each 
 woman sleeps with her husband, in turn, a certain number 
 of nights. This is invariably a rule, and so regular are they 
 in the observance of it, that although the man may have no 
 connection with the wife whose turn comes, he cannot refuse 
 to sleep with her: although there may, however, be a 
 favourite wife whom he oft-times calls to him, treats with 
 marked respect, or pays her many attentions, yet if any con- 
 nection be discovered out of proper turn, the others will hold 
 a palaver, claiming the custom of their country, and the 
 former is in danger of being taken off by poison; therefore 
 
 * I have mentioned the chief female as head woman or first wife. Her 
 privilege is to enjoy an entire conimand over the rest ; and of this in all but 
 the circumstance specified, she makes a most despotic use. Her dress and 
 ornaments are more rich, she follows her husband wherever he goes, and 
 chuses such women as she wishes to be with her. 
 
SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. IS 
 
 whatever is done must be with the utmost secrecy ; and these 
 embraces are stolen with as much precaution as an emperor 
 would make use of in his intrigues. Perhaps one custom 
 may account for their having a plurality of wives ; when a 
 woman has borne a child, she does not return to the arms of 
 her husband till that child can bring her a pot of water : nor 
 do they go with their husbands when they have, as they ex- 
 press it, " the moon on theml " I have been assured that 
 this is a general term for the occurrence all along this coast 
 and throughout Africa. In short, they attribute more to the 
 influence of the moon than we do. . The people at Sierra 
 Leone, declare fhat the moon will turn meat putrid, and 
 produce fevers. I have already alluded to the extreme 
 modesty of the African women; I must here again observe, 
 that although an European lady may turn up her nose at 
 ** the horrid naked creatures," delicacy will not permit me to 
 enter into particular explanations, but I must declare that 
 they are at certain times much more modest as to their 
 actions and behaviour than many of our fantastical women 
 of fashion. Their attention and submission to their husbands, 
 and their affection for their children, are worthy of the 
 
 highest encomiums Blush ! ye fair faced females ! this — 
 
 this IS Nature ! Here the name of wet nurse is unknown ! 
 here the true enjoyment of an offspring is felt as it should be ! 
 On the 1st of December we read the Articles of War to the 
 ship's company; a custom which, by act of parliament, is 
 obliged to be repeated every two months. We mistook the 
 island of Matacovy for Temara. It appears a beautiful spot 
 covered with trees and verdure, but has shoal water all round 
 it : it is in the possession of the Mandingoes. On the 2nd of 
 December having missed the islands, either from the incor- 
 rectness of the charts or uncertainty of the tides, and having 
 now a fair wind for Sierra Leone, we returned and anchored 
 again off Free-town. On the 10th we again got under weigh 
 for those islands; the 12th we anchored about seven o'clock, 
 four miles from Factory Island ; went on shore with the cap- 
 tain and purser to the factory, where we found Mr. Frisk, an 
 American gentleman, extremely ill with an ulcerated leg. It 
 appeared to be an exfoliation of a part of the tibia, which he 
 supposed was a disease called by them craw-craws ; but this 
 is a species of the itch, producing small white blotches on the 
 skin, in the joints, between the fingers, and sometimes all 
 all over the body, and which easily gives way to preparations 
 of sulphur and lime-juice. He said he would not submit it, 
 to the native mode of cure, as it would give him excruciating 
 pain; this method is to bind a roasted lime on the diseased 
 
14 SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 
 
 part. I gave him every medical assistance that lay in power, 
 in return for which he made me a present of two kids and a 
 billender of oranges ; he also made the captain a present of a 
 very fine ox and some goats. On our first landing here, the 
 people belonging to this gentleman, thinking us French, ran 
 into the woods, as did also his head woman, pulling off 'her 
 cloth, and scampered away with great expedition. This 
 factory consists merely of a few huts, and the island was 
 purchased by another American of Eio Pongos, of the prince 
 who owned it. 
 
 We next went to Crawford's Island, and called at Mr. 
 Wilson's, who we found was gone to Sierra Leone; in his 
 yard were a great number of slaves, which 'had been pur- 
 chased of him, and relanded from an American slave brig 
 lying off this place, whose crew, from the captain to the 
 lowest sailor, were laid up with fever; only a few female 
 slaves were kept on board to attend them. This was the first 
 time I saw the male slaves in chains. The women never are 
 so confined. Two or more are chained together round their 
 necks with heavy padlocks on their breasts, round the ancles, 
 or hand-cuffed. Those with chains were beating rice, but a 
 melancholy gloom hung over their countenance : they fre- 
 quently would rest, look at each other, and sigh. The women 
 appeared more cheerful, and the girls did not seem to be 
 much affected. The steward made the captain a present of 
 a small pig. We then walked to another factory on the same 
 island, the owner of which we found was in London : we 
 were, however, 'handsomely treated by a young woman from 
 Sierra Leone, named Betsy Walker, who gave us refresh- 
 ments, presented to the captain some goats and pigs, and to 
 myself a kid. She related that when she saw our vessel in 
 the offing, she had resolved to collect the slaves, and remove 
 the property into the w^oods, as she before had been twice 
 obliged to do w^hen the French effected a landing, by which 
 means she preserved the effects of her friend from plunder. 
 She was continually on the watch with a glass, and in short 
 she shewed so much attention to the trust reposed in her, so 
 much affection and anxiety for his safe return, that I could 
 not 'help reflecting on leaving her, *' What is this difference 
 of colour, that it should stigmatize the being who possesses 
 it? " The house, superintended by this female, was in the 
 most exact order; her slaves were at liberty and in perfect 
 obedience, looking up to her as their protector and friend. 
 Here is an extraordinary instance of a female, on an island 
 where there is but another family; liable every moment to 
 brutality from the attacks of the corsairs, or a whim of the 
 
SPILSBURY'S voyage to AFRICA. 15 
 
 petty kings of the opposite coast, defending herself, securing 
 the property of her keeper, and obtaining the respect of all 
 who surround her. 
 
 We watered at Temara; I went with the party; the water 
 springs from a rock near the beach, and the casks must be 
 roll-ed down. A party of black men who came down to the spot 
 said they were sure Mr. Williams would be very glad to see us. 
 We therefore walked across the island, which is covered with 
 underwood; and on the opposite side we came to the ruins 
 of a village, and were shewn to the hut of their prince, Tom 
 Williams, a stout young man, who spoke very good English; 
 he told us he was very sorry he could offer us rlo thing but 
 water, as he had but just returned to Temara, having had 
 a war with a neighbouring king, who had destroyed his town, 
 as we saw, and had taken a great number of his people ; but 
 he assured us that he had been fully revenged, and was now 
 returned to rebuild his town. He said he was taken to Eng- 
 land w^hen young, and lived a long time at Chester; but 
 having happily returned to his own country, he fixed on this 
 island, which belonged to him by right. His wives procured 
 us some water, and offered to cook us some fowls, but we 
 declined their politeness and took our departure. It is neces- 
 sary to remark here, that saluting is not the same as the Eng- 
 lish fashion; but is performed by one person holding out the 
 hand open, over which the other draws his. One point of this 
 island is called Tom Williams's Point, and on this his town 
 is situated. 
 
 December the 16th, at four o'clock, Cape Sierra Leone 
 bore S. W. i W. three or four miles. At a quarter past four 
 the ship struck on a s'hoal of sand called the Middle-ground, 
 the cape bearing at this time S. W. nearly five miles. Hove 
 the sails all aback, and sent the master away to sound. 
 Finding it impracticable to get her off at that time, in conse- 
 quence of the falling tide, we struck the lower yards and top- 
 masts, and put them over the side to keep the ship upright. 
 Boats were also employed in carrying out anchors, to heave 
 her off. 
 
 At twenty minutes past five, came alongside to our assist- 
 ance Mr. Mc. Cawley, master of the Mary, and also a boat 
 from the Arab : we started our water in the hold, and got 
 every thing ready for heaving her off at high water. A. M. 
 light airs and cloudy. At twenty minutes past twelve 
 brought to the capstan, and endeavoured to heave her off, 
 but without effect. At twenty minutes past nine a schooner 
 came alongside and carried out our bower anchor; she took 
 on board also part of our guns. At ten the Arab came to our 
 
16 SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 
 
 assistance. The 17th, early in the morning, all hands were 
 employed at the capstan, and at three they hove her off into 
 three fathoms water. At thirty minutes past three received 
 a hawser from the Arab, and warped 'her off the bank, and at 
 six anchored in seven and half fathoms. People were now 
 employed in getting up the yards and topmasts, and at nine, 
 we weighed and made sail. In the evening we anchored off 
 Free-town in eleven fathoms water. 
 
 December 20th. We first heard of Lord Nelson's victory 
 over the combined fleet off Trafalgar, and fired a salute of 
 twenty-one guns in consequence. We now received orders to 
 go to Rio Pongor, to look after a privateer. At half-past six 
 A.M. we weighed; at seven hoisted in all the boats; and at 
 fifteen minutes past eleven we anc'hored in seven and half 
 fathoms. Free- town, bearing S. by E. On the 22d, we lay 
 off Crawford's island. 23d. Tom Williams's Point, S. b. ^ 
 W. six or seven miles. Thirty minutes past five saw four 
 strange sail, gave chace to a schooner and ship, and came up 
 with the schooner, which we found to be a friend. At forty 
 minutes past eleven we came to off Factory Island, in seven 
 and half fathoms water, with the kedge. At this time we had 
 on board a gentleman named Wilson, who was to have piloted 
 us into the Eio Pongos; but meeting with Mr. Lawrence, 
 a black gentleman, son to a Mr. Lawrence of Deal, whom 
 he thought to be a better pilot than himself, he returned to 
 Crawford Island, leaving another black man. Captain Jack, 
 as a clever pilot for that channel. He was one of the men 
 taken in a schooner before our last return to Sierra Leone, 
 belonging to a Mr. Butterfield, w^ho was captured in her. He 
 and Mr. Butterfield had agreed that with three or four more 
 men, they should, if the boat came alongside, try to effect 
 their escape, leave their despatches with Mr. Frisk, and make 
 the best of their way to Sierra Leone, to give timely notice 
 of an enemy being on the coast. They employed themselves 
 for some time in damping the priming of the musquets; the 
 French prize-master gave them a sufficient opportunity of 
 doing so, by drinking so much porter as to make himself 
 drunk. At last the boat came alongside, when they jumped 
 into her and rowed ofi. Neither oaths, menaces, nor the 
 actions of the enemy, who pointed their musquets at them, 
 had any effect; only one of the latter went off, fortunately it 
 did no mischief. Mr. Butterfield promised this Captain Jack 
 a slave if he succeeded : he was the person who brought to 
 Sierra Leone the intelligence of the circumstance, which 
 occasioned our going in chace of them. We found Mr. Law- 
 rence at Factory Island coming in search of us, to inform us 
 
SPILSBURy's voyage to AFRICA. 17 
 
 of the privateer; he also told us that a great number of the 
 men were captured by the natives, and were in chains. 
 
 I had now again the pleasure of seeing Mr. Frisk, whose 
 leg I found to be much better, but his knee contracted. At 
 thirty minutes past three P.M. we made all sail, Mr. Law- 
 rence's sloop in company. Saw a ship in the northward 
 firing at the sloop with grape and round shot : discharged our 
 larboard broadside at her; which she returned with two, and 
 proved to be the Hibernia from Liverpool, bound to Eio 
 Pongos. On the 25th saw a strange sail; heard the report of 
 two guns, and sent the jolly boat with the master and pilot, 
 to discover the entrance or river : she returned however 
 without success, the pilot declaring that " his tree no 
 lib dere," the tree being his mark for the entrance. This 
 sufficiently shews the errors of the charts as there is no river 
 where it is laid down. 
 
 , December 26th. We picked up a very large canoe adrift; 
 came to an anchor in four fathoms, and saw a strange sail in 
 shore, steering to the northward. Sent our cutter to recon- 
 noitre again : at eight A. M. fired three guns : at ten observed 
 our cutter coming; without having found the mouth of the 
 river. Made sail again to the N. W. 
 
 December 27th. At five P.M. anchored with the kedge in 
 three and half fathoms. We now, from several circum- 
 stances, judged we must be at the mouth of the river: all 
 hands were therefore anxious in making preparation, know- 
 ing the enemy's privateer to be of superior force to us. We 
 hung the hammock cloths over our sides to prevent their 
 seeing the guns : our head was muffled up, and disguised in 
 the same manner; and the carpenters were employed in 
 making a false poop : which when finis'hed, occasioned her 
 looking more like a rusty old Guineaman, than a man of war. 
 
 December 28th. The cutter returned; they had been a 
 long way up the river, and in the night were close to the 
 privateer, before they were aware of their situation : nor did 
 they find it out until they heard their sentries challenge each 
 other. She immediately got under weigh, and a brig with 
 her did the same; our boat following them, but close under 
 the land for fear of discovery. When our cutter left them 
 they had anchored at the mouth of the river, which is twelve 
 or fourteen miles to the northward of its place in the charts. 
 From the soundings, two and half fathoms, there was scarce 
 water to get over the bar. It was therefore proposed, if we 
 could not get in with the Favourite, to cut the privateer out. 
 We 'hoisted out the gig, and sent the first and second 
 lieutenants to make observations. In the mean time we got 
 
18 SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 
 
 under weigh. We had not made much progress, when we 
 saw them returning, waving their hats. We now got out all 
 our sweeps, regulated the strokes by the drum, and sent the 
 boats ahead to tow. When they came back, they said they 
 had seen her taken aback, with a prize, which she had made. 
 Dropped anchor at one P. M. we saw two brigs under 
 American colours; at two commenced firing, when a black 
 privateer hoisted French colours and returned it : at twenty 
 minutes past two she struck : we boarded her ; and they 
 called for the doctor. I was consequently sent on board, and 
 found seven killed, including the captain, and twenty-four 
 wounded; their decks were so slippery with blood, that I 
 could not stand without holding by the rigging. Having 
 ordered those who were dead to be thrown overboard, I found 
 an old man with his face entirely cut away, except the lower 
 jaw; the ball had left neither eyes, nose, nor cheeks! and 
 where the septum of the nose was, I could see the brain forc- 
 ing a passage. This poor object was nevertheless continually 
 swallowing his own blood, and coughing: the French them- 
 selves, as an act of humanity, threw him overboard. The 
 captain and two more were killed after they had struck, owing 
 to their not being able to stop their men from firing. One of 
 our twelve pound shots struck one of her guns; the shot split, 
 killed the man at the helm, and another piece went through 
 and tore his lungs out. I got their surgeon at last up from 
 below; and between us we dressed the wounded. There was 
 one man whose leg it was necessary to amputate ; the French 
 surgeon begged to be allowed to operate, but performed his 
 task in such a shocking manner, I was obliged to turn my 
 back on 'him. The vessel proved to be the General Blanchard, 
 commanded by J. B. de Breux ; formerly governor of Goree, 
 a man of great courage, and much lamented by 'his own 
 people, as well as his enemies. I took some of the wounded 
 with me on board. The vessel was considerably damaged both 
 in her hull and rigging. Her ccmpleraent before the action 
 was 130 men and 16 guns of various calibre. We now sent 
 the boatswain with a gang of hands to splice and knot the 
 rigging; and the purser up the river, to inform the settlers 
 of her capture, and to procure some fres'h beef. Several 
 Englishmen came on board with presents, and were highly 
 rejoiced at our success. On the purser's return, he informed 
 us he had been a great distance up the river, and that the 
 people behaved in a very liberal manner; they were highly 
 delighted with the news, as were the natives — and stated that 
 we might expect the next day a large party of gentlemen, who 
 would bring presents of live stock of every denomination with 
 
S1>ILSBURY*S VOYAGE TO AFRICA. 19 
 
 them : accordingly early on the following morning, several 
 boats came with different gentlemen (slave-factors^) bringing 
 goats, cattle, sheep, poultry, &c., &c. One of the company 
 brought a very handsome boy slave about ten years old, as a 
 present to the captain, and to whom we gave the name of 
 John Favorite. At the same time came a general of the king 
 of that country, accompanied with a singing man. Before 
 he well got up the ship's side he opened his pipes; and when 
 on deck, seized the captain with both hands, and with great 
 rapidity and loudness of voice began his song, in w^hich he 
 called over the names of all the neighbouring sovereigns; 
 saying they were great warriors, but the English still greater, 
 and ending each strain with " King George live for ever I " 
 Wherever the captain went, he would follow him, singing in 
 his cabin, between decks — it was all one. The captain 
 thinking to stop 'him from thus annoying him, made him a 
 present of an umbrella; but this only increased his ardour, 
 for he put it under his arm, strumming on it as if it were a 
 guitar. At this time, we had our prisoners all aft, with a 
 netting separating them from the quarter deck. They now 
 took his attention ; and he made the most horrid grimaces at 
 them, wit^h signs of cutting their throats; drawing out his 
 knife, and singing; or rather vociferating all the time. We 
 asked him to go below, and had some rice boiled for him, but 
 he would drink nothing but sugar and water. He proceeded 
 to sing as usual, to our great annoyance. Our purser at 
 length gave him a present of a French pistol; this not only 
 increased the noise of the singing man, but evidently dis- 
 pleased the general; and to prevent his c'hagrin, I was 
 obliged to give him a pair of the purser's shoes. Every thing 
 was now settled amicably; and they departed in high glee, 
 often calling on board the privateer. We now found the 
 Blanchard 'had only the day before got her men from slavery 
 on shore; and the captain nobly declared he would sooner 
 be taken than leave his men in that situation; otherwise he 
 would undoubtedly have got away. The fact was, they went 
 to cut an English trading brig up the river, but in their at- 
 tempt, they were taken by the natives; and the gentlemen 
 with much difficulty saved their lives. The river is so extre- 
 mely narrow, and wood grows so close down to the edge, that 
 volleys of musquetry could be poured on them without 
 seeing whence the firing came. We had at this time on board 
 as passengers. Lieutenant Odium of the African corps, and 
 
 * The Sierra Leone colony, though expressly established for the abolition 
 of the slave trade, has produced more slave-factors than any other settle- 
 ment. 
 
20 SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 
 
 his lady. He was the only person wounded in the action, 
 and t/hat slightly, the ball entering his shoes and bruising his 
 foot. We had also one boy extremely ill of a fever. 
 
 December 29th. This day the Arab joined us ; and twenty- 
 four people now fell ill of a fever. I can only account for this, 
 by recollecting what happened on our going into the river; 
 from the time we began pulling our sweeps, to the time we 
 commenced action, we were constantly stirring up the mud. 
 
 Our black pilot in his own idea was certainly a very great 
 man. He received his money for piloting the ship over the 
 bar ; and then immediately asked for his prize-money. He 
 behaved extraordinarily well during the action : he asked the 
 captain for a musquet, which when given him he used like 
 a bush-fighter, loading and firing with much rapidity from 
 behind the foremast. 
 
 We returned over the Bar as we came, and anchored in 
 three and half fathoms water, Eio Pongos bearing N. by E. 
 three of four leagues; sent fifty-four prisoners on board the 
 Arab. On the 30th we were busy in repairing our damages, 
 especially our driver-boom, through which a twelve pound 
 shot had passed. At five P. M. we made sail for Goree, 
 having our prize in company. 
 
 January 3d. We unfortunately took the powder out of our 
 prize ; and were informed by one of our people, that when the 
 captain was killed an officer was seen putting his hands in his 
 pocket, and pulling out a handful of money. This led to far- 
 ther enquiries; and we found they had sold a prize for 500 
 doubloons, which, in searching, we found among the people. 
 
 Monday, January 6th, 1806. About six o'clock we cast off 
 our prize, and ordered her to proceed on her voyage. Three 
 vessels now appeared N. E. of us : we went down to overhaul 
 them, they standing towards us about half past eight. We 
 found they were French. We then immediately wore, they 
 tacked, and commenced firing. Their force consisted of one 
 74, two frigates, and a brig. The 74 came up, and gave us 
 three broadsides, as well as the frigates, one of which we 
 found afterwards had expended 130 shot. We cut away our 
 anchors, but this made the ship worse. I was ordered below. 
 At this moment we received a large shot from the commo- 
 dore, just on the quarter, which was near sinking her, and 
 at half past eleven, having no possibility of escaping by re- 
 sisting longer, we struck. The scene we now witnessed it is 
 not in the power of my pen to describe. The purser threw 
 open the slop-room, and every man helped himself to what 
 clothes he chose. I put on two shirts, two pair of trowsers, 
 and my best clothes. The captain declared they would strip 
 
SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 21 
 
 US ; and my boy put into a bag my shirts and a case of instru- 
 ments, whic'h, by good fortune, were those presented me by 
 Sir Sidney Smith, and which I used at the siege of Acre when 
 employed on shore with him; he also put up my cot, in which 
 he wrapped a quadrant. When they boarded us, all was in 
 confusion. Our chests, however, were ordered on deck; and 
 the officers declared they should be sacred, and that no 
 plunder should be allowed. As to myself, I was peremptorily 
 ordered into the boat; but managed to take my cot and bag 
 with me, though I was not permitted to get my chest up from 
 below. When I arrived on board the commodore's ship, he 
 ordered me back again to take care of the sick and wounded, 
 in which time my chest was stove to pieces, and all the in- 
 struments and clothes stolen, even my bed-curtains. What 
 they could not take away, they tore to pieces and threw over- 
 board : in a word, the plunder was general. Mr. Odium, 
 whom I have before mentioned, and his wife, were also 
 pillaged while present ; the women they left with the wounded 
 and sick. A French officer, a Leutenant de Vaisseau, now 
 joined us, who paid some little attention to our wants : he 
 was, indeed, a humane man. During the course of this day 
 no provision was thought of; and from the women nothing 
 was heard but sighs and moans. The French captain desired 
 us to sleep in the cabin, and a sentry was placed to see the 
 men did not plunder us. The sentries were, however, as bad 
 as the rest; so we had no chance of keeping what little we 
 had ramaining. They were not content with wfhat they could 
 get from us, but broke open also the women's chests, and 
 stole chemises and every other article of their paraphernalia. 
 At night I chanced to sleep near our captain's wine-bin, and 
 could not refrain from so good an opportunity of procuring 
 refreshment. We broached and drank two bottles; being 
 very careful, however, that the sentry should not see us. It 
 was during this time that the sentries opened the lady's 
 chests and stole her clothes. I had a boy in my list extremely 
 ill, named Corbet, whom during the chace we had laid below. 
 He was, after our being boarded, continually run over by the 
 Frenchmen; for they having sworn to stab any one who 
 should oppose them, none dared to put themselves in their 
 way. In consequence of this treatment, the blood gushed out 
 of his nose and eyes; the poor lad lingered a few days and 
 died. As soon as he had breathed his last, they bundled him, 
 hammock, bedding, and all, into the sea, like a dog, without 
 funeral service, or any other ceremony. 
 
 The next day I arranged my sick and the wounded French- 
 men of the privateer. I was ordered to place the French and 
 
22 spilsbury's voyage to aprica. 
 
 Spaniards aft, the English forward, but never could get any 
 wine for them, though the officers had taken possession of all 
 Captain Davies's and our's, of which there was a very large 
 stock. One of our men, named Francisco, a Portuguese, im- 
 mediately entered the Frenc'h service, and became the com- 
 missary's steward, and through his means our people had as 
 much to eat and drink as they pleased; nor did they ever 
 abuse the favour. This indulgence was far from the case with 
 our poor fellows in the other s'hips, who were allowed three 
 half pints of water a day, a very short quantity considering 
 the intense heat of the climate ; they had also a large spoonful 
 of brandy in the morning, one at noon, and a third at night, 
 and numbers of these unfortunate men sold the small re- 
 mains of their clothes to procure provisions. As to myself, 
 I canont complain of my treatment. The only thing which 
 distressed me was the sighs and moans of the lady, who, 
 though treated with the greatest respect by every officer on 
 board, never ceased, and her complaints at last became really 
 troublesome. While we were with them we continued 
 running to the southward, and they talked of going to Sierra 
 Leone ; but all the English on board every ship gave suc'h an 
 account of its strength, that they determined to relinquish 
 their project. There was no order, or any apparent idea of 
 religion among them. When they heard of Lord Nelson's 
 victory, the paper was sent to every ship : it stated that there 
 was only four sail of French ships which could be of any ser- 
 vice to the English, the rest were Spaniards. When the de- 
 luded Frenchmen heard this, they pulled off their caps and 
 huzza'd " Vive VEmpereur'^," till the decks echoed with 
 their shouts. They boasted, highly of their continental vic- 
 tories, but allowed the English to be their masters on the 
 ocean. 
 
 Nothing particular happened till the 22d of January. When 
 we made Cape Mount, the commodore sent two ships round 
 in such a manner that it was impossible any thing should 
 escape. There were four vessels in the bay, three American 
 and an unfortunate Liverpool slave brig, which fired a gun; 
 and on the French commodore hauling down English and 
 hoisting his own colours, she struck. Her name was the Trio. 
 The female slaves on board her they sold to the Americans, 
 and the male ones they divided among their own ships. The 
 first lieutenant went on shore for the Trio's boat, which was 
 at first refused him by King Peter Careful, who thus reasoned 
 
 • After the punishment, the poor boys stand with their trousers down, 
 and are obliged to cry out, "Ftve VEmpereur.** 
 
SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 23 
 
 with him : " Suppose I no give it you, how you get it? you no 
 have it." But when he found he was English, the prince 
 sent orders to have it given up to him. It was hid among the 
 bushes up a small arm of the river, over whic'h the man- 
 dingo trees made a complete cover; and as he could have 
 brought 4000 men with fire-arms into the bushes, could they 
 have found it, it would have been impossible to succeed in 
 carrying it away. The first mate of the Trio went with our 
 officer, and asked Jack, the prime minister, if he had nothing 
 to yam. " Yes," said he, "look in that box: " in which 
 appeared, as they supposed, a kid, of which they ate very 
 hearty, and washed it down with trade brandy. After which 
 Jack asked, " What you eat? " They guessed kid. He said, 
 ** No; it be dog. Me see you coming. Me no kid, no fowls, no 
 nothing but poor dog. You ask me to yam. Me kill dog and 
 roast dog. You no like dog; you sick. You yam more than 
 me." At this they could not help laughing; and they de- 
 clared it was extremely good. They stopped all night, but 
 could not sleep for the filth; and Lieutenant Parsons, in the 
 morning, came down to the beach. He was very soon joined 
 by the king, who, during the night, was very uneasy, changed 
 his dress four or five times, and appeared very jealous. In 
 the morning they returned. Before we took the Trio, we 
 were extremely fearful the commodore would put his threat 
 in execution of landing our poor unfortunate men on the 
 African shore, and take the officers with him : 'had this been 
 the case, very few would have lived to return to their native 
 country. How pleasing then must have been the sound, ** Get 
 all your things on deck to go on board the flag of truce ; " for 
 we found they had converted the Trio into a cartel. Every 
 thing was on deck in an instant : and a smile and colour 
 broke forth from the pallid cheeks of my poor convalescents. 
 We now thought all further plunder at an end, but soon found 
 we were mistaken : every man's hammock was again 
 searched by the commissary and another French marauder, 
 who had been prize-master of the schooner from which Mr. 
 Butterfield escaped. They took from each their tobacco 
 pouches, knives, needles, and every article they could find, 
 except barely the suit they had on, and their beds : the two 
 former articles, in particular, are really a serious loss to a 
 sailor. From my servant they took his bed and some spirits 
 which he had managed to save from his scanty allowance. 
 They were then proceeding to the quarter-deck ; but the cap- 
 tain, tired of their depredations, declared we should not again 
 be plundered. He said he was ashamed of the commissary's 
 behaviour, saying he used us worse than we should have been 
 
24 spilsbury's voyage to Africa. 
 
 by a privateer or pirate. At last, towards the evening, we 
 joyfully embarked, and got on board the cartel : our sensa- 
 tions, on meeting together once more, are not to be de- 
 scribed. Soon after the captain came on board, and we got 
 under weigh, as did the French squadron. We could not help 
 looking after the Favourite ; and could not persuade ourselves 
 we were clear of the enemy till they were out of sight. During 
 the time I was prisoner in my own ship, I could not help 
 observing the amazing difference between her situation then 
 and when manned by British sailors, in point of discipline 
 and alacrity, as well as seamanship. They were very glad 
 when it blew a little fresher than ordinary, to get my boy to 
 stand at the helm; so ignorant were they, in general, of naval 
 tactics. Every thing of which they did not comprehend the 
 use they threw overboard, without consulting their officer, to 
 whom they showed no respect. They dined on the quarter- 
 deck, which is sacred to the officers in our service ; and they 
 spoke to their superiors as if they had been equals. Very few 
 of them had any beds till they came on board; and they 
 swarmed with vermin, which we of course could not help 
 sharing with them. The gun-room was entirely deserted, as 
 all the officers messed with the captain in the cabin. At the 
 time we were taken, we had a great quantity of live stock (a 
 very pleasing surprise for monsieur), and the greater part 
 they divided among them. Such also was their voracious- 
 ness, that I was obliged to assist my new mess-mates to hide 
 some, as well as wine, butter, cheese, &c., or they would 
 have left us entirely without these necessary articles. I had, 
 however, no fault to find with the captain, excepting not 
 allowing wine for the sick. As to myself, I had his confi- 
 dence ; and sat down to a good table with him, while my ship- 
 mates in the other vessels were almost starving. The only 
 trouble I had was to settle little disputes between them and 
 the lady : she thought she had a right to take her own things ; 
 a litle bread and butter, for instance, between her meals. 
 They thought the contrary : and simple as this was, it occa- 
 sioned continual discord; the commissary running with com- 
 plaints against her to the captain; she, at the same time, 
 being continually peevish and cross, from the various losses 
 they had sustained. 
 
 I must now continue my narrative from the Trio cartel. 
 The French commodore gave us five days' provision for 160 
 men to go to Sierra Leone. Besides the Favourite's crew, 
 there were the Trio's, and Eobert's of Liverpool; Hero's of 
 Glasgow; Flora's from London; and Belle's from Greenock. 
 From the calms about the Banana and Turtle Islands, we 
 
SPILSBURY'S voyage to AFRICA. 25 
 
 were detained eight days, and of course short of provisions 
 and water. 
 
 January 24th. Cape Mount bore E. S. E. distant five 
 leagues. At five P.M. the commodore ordered all the British 
 subjects into the Trio. We weighed and made sail, the wind 
 W. S. W. to N. E. fine clear weather. 
 
 January 25th. Some of the sailors belonging to the mer- 
 chantmen became mutinous; supposing, as they were in a 
 cartel, no one had any command over them; the consequence 
 was, that all hands were called, the captain read the articles 
 of war to them, pointed out the ill consequences of want of 
 order and regulation, and the necessity of subordination; 
 otherwise the navigation of this small vessel, with so many 
 men, would be dangerous, as the passage was long and 
 tedious to England. He then impressed on each of the backs 
 of the mutineers three sound dozen each, after which they 
 were perfectly obedient to order. 
 
 January 27th. Wind variable, lat. 7° 30'. Light airs 
 occasionally, and lying at anchor during part of the time. On 
 mustering the company, we found in all 160 of us, officers in- 
 cluded. 
 
 January 28th. Wind W. N. W. to N. N. W. land extend- 
 ing from N. E. to E. N. E. lat. 7° 46' N. We anchored at 
 Saint Anne's. At six A.M. weighed, but were obliged to be 
 towed by our boats. 
 
 January 29th, 30th, 31st. Wind W. N. W. to N. N. E. 
 lat. as yesterday. Extreme of land N. E. seven or eight 
 miles. Weighed and anchored, the Turtle Islands in sight. 
 
 Saturday, February 1st. Fearing the wind would fail, I 
 was sent in the jolly-boat from the False Cape to Sierra 
 Leone, with a letter to the governor to inform 'him of the loss 
 of the Favourite. A breeze springing up, she arrived there 
 before me, but could not get ashore until I had delivered the 
 letter. We found at anchor here, the Anderson, who fired an 
 evening gun, which made us mistake her for a man of war. 
 The whole of the inhabitants were extrciiriely sorry for us; I 
 gave the men something to drmk, and then delivered my 
 letter; on which the governor politely asked me to his table. 
 While I staid there, the brig came to an anchor off Free-town ; 
 and then the captain came on shore, and we all supped at 
 Mrs. Small's, by whom we were most kindly treated, which 
 was the more acceptable, as for some time we had been on 
 short allowance. 
 
 Monday, February 3d. Light breezes and cloudy, wind 
 still variable. Went on board the Anderson, and saw a Chim- 
 panzee; his face is bald, as are his hands and feet; his arms 
 
26 spilsbury's voyage to Africa. 
 
 are very long, and when he walks on all fours, he appears like 
 the well-known beggar in London who 'has lost both his legs ; 
 his body is covered with long black hair, and he is continually 
 clinging round any one who notices him. At night when any 
 of the female slaves leave a part of their clothes about, he 
 hunts for them to make his bed. This was the first time I had 
 been on board of a slave ship ; but I must declare that the 
 slaves all appeared happy; she was in excellent order, which 
 redounded to the honour of the captain. There were also on 
 board a young alligator, two porcupines, and a crown-bird. 
 
 Captain D sent for a small slave boy, named John 
 
 Favourite, which was given 'him by a gentleman of Kio 
 Pongos; but the captain of the slave ship declared he would 
 keep him for himself. When we were taken, the second cap- 
 tain of the Eegulus thought of keeping the boy, and had his 
 ears bored, put a necklace on him, and 'had a bed made up 
 for him in his cabin; but the commander insisted on his re- 
 turning him : not so with our wine. They took of private 
 property from the captain, two pipes of Port, and several of 
 Madeira; from myself a quarter-cask, and another from the 
 first and second lieutenants, but had the generosity to restore 
 the captain six bottles. 
 
 Tuesday, February 4th. Early in the morning I set off with 
 Capt. Davie and the gentlemen of Bance's Island in their 
 ^ barge to that place. As we were rather late for the tide, we 
 stopped at Tasso Island ; there I saw another alligator rather 
 longer than the one before spoken of, and a large species of 
 eagle. This island is covered with cotton, palms, and pine 
 apples. A great number of the slaves here had ulcerated legs 
 as well as the craw-craws. I saw a small thin girl, not more 
 than twelve years of age, who 'had a very fine young child; 
 there I also saw a beautiful little animal of the deer kind. It 
 is common here, though Mr. Brown, the governor of Bance's 
 Island, has prohibited their being shot. We refreshed our- 
 selves with some bread, cheese, and porter, and then crossed 
 over to Bance's Island; which, though very small, has a most 
 delightful appearance at a little distance; it resembles a 
 strong fort; they have a good battery, and the buildings are 
 large and commodious, with a gallery to walk all round. 
 The public dining room where they all meet, is of a consider- 
 able size. The present slave-yard is ill adapted, and the 
 houses are mean and dirty, but there is a new one building 
 on a new plan. The town is large in proportion to the island, 
 and every thing is conducted in the most orderly manner; 
 they have a furnace here for heating shot red hot, but there 
 is one practice which must be considered as very obnoxious ; 
 
SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 27 
 
 I mean the burying of the dead on so small an island. I 
 could discover an offensive effluvium from the burying 
 grounds. It is to be hoped, that the governor or the mer- 
 chants, to whom this duty belongs, will, for the future, order 
 the bodies at Goree, to be sent to the Continent or Tasso, 
 and not endanger the lives of such a number of persons, by 
 so shocking a custom. 
 
 Every gentleman here has his black wife, and the usual 
 mode of marrying is as follows : W'hen a girl is marriageable, 
 the mother looks out for a husband, who, if approved of, 
 must send the following articles, viz. one fathom of cloth, a 
 jar containing three gallons of spirits, and four or six hands 
 of tobacco; they then bring the girl, and she pulls off her 
 ping or bodice, puts on the cloth, and that moment com- 
 mences a woman. Hence they have a common manner, 
 when they mean to express themselves delicately respecting 
 the loss of their virginity, of saying, he was the man who 
 put a cloth on me. The ping is a narrow slip of cloth, three 
 fingers in breadth, which only a virgin wears; yet with this 
 simple covering, they are far more modest than the girls of 
 Europe. 
 
 Near this island is another, named Bob's Island. To this 
 place all the widows are removed, where fchey are taken great 
 care of, and provided with every requisite of life. It may 
 therefore be more properly termed Widow's Island. In the 
 rainy season, there are always a large quantity of alligators 
 among these islands; and at a boat-house, close to the fort, 
 on Bance's Island, one came and took away a black boy in 
 presence of a number of persons, w'ho could render him no 
 assistance. On the first fall of his upper jaw, the blood 
 gushed out at the boy's nose, mouth, and eyes. The one I 
 saw at Tasso, would make a spring at a stick, and if he 
 missed it, his jaws gave a loud snap. The teeth are ex- 
 tremely sharp and pointed, and stand at some distance from 
 each other. The captain held a stick to 'him with a brass 
 ferule, which he marked with his teeth, and shook violently. 
 
 The large breasts of the black women, are, generally 
 speaking, owing to their hard labour, as they always beat the 
 rice, and do all kinds of drudgery; the men only hunting or 
 making instruments of war. During the time I was here, 
 the slaves worked extremely hard, beating rice for our 
 passage, &c. One handsome girl, whose breasts, before she 
 began, were round and prominent, in two or three days, by 
 the continual jarring, began visibly to fall. She was con- 
 scious of this herself, and would frequently look at them, lift 
 them up and sigh. From this circumstance, I have seen 
 young women, whose breasts were entirely flabby, appearing 
 
28 spilsbury's voyage to africa. 
 
 only like a large pendulous piece of skin. It is therefore 
 owing to their little nourishment and hard labour which they 
 endure, that we may ascribe the difference between the 
 African and European women in this praticular. 
 
 I have mentioned already, that the laws of adultery among 
 them are very severe. A man was caught in bed with one 
 of the king's wives, and Mr. B. was, in consequence, obliged 
 to send him in the Anderson to be sold. As to the woman, 
 she being the daughter of a king, was only punished by being 
 sent home to her friends. 
 
 Every night the native men begin their dances, which are 
 very laborious; they take hold of hands and dance about to 
 the sound of their drum; while each pair, alternately, throw 
 their right and left leg over the other, and when this is done, 
 they then throw over the left and right. Another dance is some- 
 thing like that in Goree; — they have also an obscene dance, 
 from the description of w'hich no satisfaction could be de- 
 rived. These people, all of whose dress consists of a small 
 piece of cloth round the waist, are very saving, and often 
 return to their o^ti country with great riches, but their king 
 generally compels them to make over to him the best part, 
 and if they hide it, and will not confess where, they are 
 roasted over a slow fire. They carry their dead on a bier, 
 with a fine piece of cloth or chintz over it. When they come 
 to the ground they make a halt, place it in the earth head 
 downward in a perpendicular direction, and then fill up the 
 ground with stones, over whic'h they place half of the canoe 
 belonging to the deceased. During my stay at this island, 
 I was sent for on board a brig by an American gentleman who 
 was sick. From his own chest I gave him nothing more than 
 a simple cathartic, and retired. When I returned to Sierra 
 Leone, I was not a little surprized at receiving the following 
 letter : — 
 
 •* Bance Island, February 8, 1806. 
 
 " MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 " Your departure being sudden and unexpected, I 
 had no opportunity to take my leave. Perinit me to request 
 your acceptance of ten dollars : not as a fee worthy of your 
 notice, but as an earnest of my respect for your superior 
 abilities. Please to favour me with your address, and per- 
 mit me to assure you, that it will ever give me a sensible 
 pleasure to serve you to the utmost of my poor abilities. 
 Wishing you an agreeable passage and a safe arrival to your 
 native soil, I beg leave to subscribe myself, my dear Sir, 
 " Most affectionately yours, 
 
 "MAETIN BENSON." 
 
SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 29 
 
 I should not do justice to the merits of the governor, were 
 I to pass over in silence his politeness and generosity towards 
 us. He sent the following letter, inviting us to his table, 
 during our stay, which I will intrude on the reader; and, at 
 the same time, sent us presents of wine, spirits, &c. 
 
 ''Fort Thornton, Feb. 1, 1806. 
 
 " Acting Governor Ludlow presents compliments to the 
 gun-room officers of his Majesty's late sloop Favourite, and 
 'hopes that under their present unfortunate circumstances, 
 they will consider his table as their own daily, while obliged 
 to remain there. It will be his greatest pleasure to lessen 
 the difficulties of their situation in every other respect as far 
 as the state of the colony will admit. 
 
 Free-town is laid out very regular; whatever wind may 
 blow the inhabitants are sure to have no obstruction from it ; 
 the houses and huts are built of wood or mud, and well 
 thatched with straw, projecting some distance from the wall, 
 and raised above it to admit free air in the rainy season. 
 This thatch is always renewed once a year, and this process, 
 at the same time, destroys the white rat which harbours in 
 it. Each house 'has a small garden at its back; containing 
 orange plantations, paw paw, apples, pepper, ginger, &c., 
 &c., but their larger plantations are at some distance from 
 the town. The pleasantest and most common nut here, and 
 which is found in great quantities, is the ground nut, a pound 
 of which is worth about twopence : they boil and dry them 
 before they expose them for sale. There is a good hospital 
 here; and while I remained it had only one surgeon, who, 
 though he pays the greatest attention, is not able to do jus- 
 tice to the great number of inhabitants. As to the schools, I 
 fear they will be of little utility, unless good masters with 
 liberal salaries are sent out. 
 
 Most of the in'habitants are methodists; and on a Sunday 
 not only the black men preach, but the women also. For the 
 smallness of the place, there are more public houses by far, 
 than in any town I ever saw in England. It has a mayor, 
 alderman, sheriff, and common council, and is governed by 
 the same laws as England. Over the stocks is the pillory, 
 which is different from ours, in being placed horizontally. 
 Their greatest enemies are the Timmanees ; with w'hom they 
 have had several wars. Their own people, the American 
 blacks, rebelled some years ago : but were reduced by the 
 accidental landing of the Maroons just in the critical 
 moment. The latter are a brave set of men, who well deserve 
 
30 SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 
 
 every encouragement of the settlers. Two of the ringleaders 
 in this rebellion were tried, condemned, and executed. So 
 suddenly was the attack of the Timmanees, who at this time 
 were to have been joined by the above mentioned rebels, that 
 they had nearly carried the settlement, having actually got 
 among the houses. Mr. Ludlow, the acting governor, to 
 whom we were much obliged both before and after our cap- 
 ture, related the following anecdote. One of king Tom's 
 wives had a gris gris, made by one of their magicians: she 
 was to hold two bottles of water in her 'hands ; and was to 
 dance in the front, and to sprinkle the water about : this 
 charm was to damp our powder. She tried this experiment, 
 until a shot broke her arm : when she let fall the bottles, and 
 ran screaming away. After the action, on asking some of the 
 prisoners what they thought of our manner of attack, they 
 answered, " You don't fight like men, fire and have done, 
 but you poke 'em, poke 'em." alluding to the charge with the 
 bayonet. As to the American settlers, they have not nor ever 
 will forget the shock they felt on the landing of the Maroons ; 
 their savage warlike appearance struck them with dismay : 
 even the girls can still scarcely speak to each other with 
 common civility. In the Maroon girl you evidently see the 
 consciousness of freedom, while the unfortunate American, 
 in her mind, feels yet the lash of an unfeeling master. The 
 character of the latter is liberal and profuse, while the 
 Maroon is saving even to parsimony : these may be called 
 permanent settlers of Sierra Leone. 
 
 An unfortunate Maroon woman lost her husband by the 
 bursting of a shell ; for some time a small pension was allowed, 
 but of late it has been stopped : for what reason I could not 
 learn. The governor ought to be particular in seeing the 
 widows and children of those who fall in defence of the 
 colony provided for, and not left to want and misery ; subject 
 to every insult without power of retribution. What a heart- 
 felt satisfaction must it be to see at the widow's feast the 
 poor as well as the rich ! 
 
 The following annual custom prevails here. The rich 
 widows once a year meet and give a great dinner, in the field, 
 with porter and wine, to the governors; each one cooking and 
 providing a certain number of dishes. The feast ends with 
 their usual favorite diversions of country dances, in which 
 some of them excel; and the unfortunate Yarico I before 
 mentioned is an instance. 
 
 All the natives I have yet seen have peculiar marks on their 
 bodies, both men and women ; the latter in general have very 
 large ones on their shoulders, and sometimes on the abdomen, 
 
SPILSBURY's voyage to AFRICA. 31 
 
 in the form of stars and other figures : these appear to be 
 made with a sharp instrument, and the wounds kept open 
 until an excrescence arises, which they suffer to skin over, 
 thereby giving a prominence to each incision. In some of 
 them, one side of the back is entirely covered with these 
 marks ; therefore the pain they must endure for this addition 
 of beauty, as they deem it, must be very great. As to their 
 hair, they are far more curious than any ladies in Europe, 
 having it plaited in the most curious and pleasing forms ; and 
 to have this operation performed, they will lay patiently 
 down during several hours ; nor do they want combs to grace 
 it. Their teeth are beautifully white; they constantly use a 
 small bit of stick to clean them ; and so much are they in the 
 habit of keeping them so, that a Goree lady (all such ladies 
 spring from the natives) in common conversation, is continu- 
 ally rubbing them. The palm-tree is here one of the greatest 
 blessings, producing oil and wine : with the former they rub 
 themselves all over; and it likewise serves them for sauce, as 
 they eat it almost with every thing. — The wine I have before 
 mentioned, is not at all ungrateful, and its deep yellow gives 
 a rich appearance to the dish. They have one dish peculiar 
 to them ; as I believe all nations have : this they call palaver 
 sauce; it is composed of fowls, stewed rice, palm oil, and 
 Cayenne pepper, with which the whole is so highly seasoned, 
 thet few Europeans can swallow it. This dish the ladies fre- 
 quently make for their husbands against their return. 
 
 The word bush is very common among them; indeed they 
 are so partial to it, they use it on all occasions. If they want 
 to hide themselves, it is in the bush ! If to perform the 
 tender office of examining each other's heads, it is done in 
 the bush ! if wanting medicines, they take them in the 
 bush ! To sum up the whole of their character ; that they 
 are jealous is true, and that left to themselves they are a 
 most hospitable, good-natured, harmless set of beings. As 
 to converting them to Christianity, that I believe is a task not 
 easily performed ; for they are not to be divested of the super- 
 stitious rites in whic'h they are brought up ; one of the prin- 
 cipal of which is, their belief in the magical effects of the red 
 water; which I will illustrate by an anecdote. A poor girl in 
 her native town, was suspected of witchcraft, which is here 
 punished in the same manner as poisoning. If they plead not 
 guilty, they are to drink a certain quantity of red water, the 
 composition of which I could not learn. If they do not swell 
 soon after, they are considered innocent; on the contrary, 
 if they do, they are sure to die, and their relations are sold 
 for slaves. This girl made her escape to Free-town; in conse- 
 
32 spilsbury's voyage to Africa. 
 
 quence of which she was converted, and became free. Not- 
 withstanding this, she frequently wished to return, and to 
 undergo the trial of the red water; so strong was her former 
 way of life impressed on her mind, which might perhaps be 
 strengthened by a wish of being with her friends and country- 
 men. 
 
 I am extremely sorry to find the natives do not now, as 
 heretofore, send their children to the Sierra Leone schools : 
 this object might be promoted by allowing them to return 
 when educated. 
 
 If a king or any other person goes to a factory, or slave- 
 ship, and procures articles which he is not at that time able 
 to pay for, he sends his wife, sister, or child, as a pawn, 
 putting a tally round their necks ; the child then runs among 
 the slaves until exchanged; and it is an invariable custom 
 never to take these pawns away; but should any accident 
 occur, as with the Trio, they immediately send the pawns on 
 shore. The captain of the Trio had a female pawn on board, 
 when the French squadron appeared, and he sent her on 
 shore to her friends. As he behaved w4th such honour, he 
 can again return ; but had he not, no Englishman would have 
 been again allowed to trade. Should any other vessel come 
 from that place, they will deliver to him the slave for the 
 pawn. If a vessel takes off any slaves without paying for 
 them, they will detain the captain of the next vessel which 
 arrives, until the full debt is paid. At Tasso Island, I saw 
 a great number of pawns with their tallies. In the annexed 
 Plate the king in full court dress, followed by his wives, has 
 a boy with this article round his neck, going to be pawned. 
 
 The slave-trade has, by numbers who have not considered 
 the business wdth sufficient attention, been deemed a traffic 
 barbarious and inhuman. To all appearance it certainly is 
 so ; but it should be considered they are slaves to those at the 
 head of their own country; nay, multitudes of them bom so. 
 It is a fact, that by them they are barbarously used, and 
 almost starved, and are in general rejoiced when they get on 
 board as slaves to Europeans. The various reports of their 
 barbarous treatment in our colonies, by those who have been 
 there, are except in a few instances, contradicted with un- 
 deniable evidence. Besides, if the English did not take them, 
 which, it is to be regretted, they no longer dare to do, there 
 are plenty of vessels from various nations who would 
 monopolize the whole, and sell them at a much higher rate. 
 Some kings, it is true, go to war for slaves; but this, I am 
 apt to think, is, when they are saddled with debt. That there 
 is kidnapping also, must be allowed. On the coast it fre- 
 quently falls on the head of the kidnappers. A man will lay 
 
SPILSBUEY's voyage to AFRICA. 33 
 
 in wait until he can seize a boy or girl who is prime, that is, 
 four feet four inches high ; this he hurries down to a factor or 
 ship, and sells. With the produce of his villainy he goes into 
 the country and purchases more slaves ; these he sells again, 
 and goes on trading until he brings a string of them. By this 
 time, the negroes have perhaps found out who stole their 
 child; they then lay in wait for him, seize him and all his 
 newly acquired slaves, and retaliate by selling the whole. Mr. 
 Wilson declares he has frequently bought the slaves and the 
 kidnapper in this way. 
 
 All the riches of the negro kings consist in slaves, over 
 whom they have power of life and death. In the way of 
 bargaining or common conversation, it is customary to say, 
 it is worth so many slaves, or such a one owes me so many 
 slaves. Thus, by the slave trade, thousands are taken from 
 real and abject slavei-y, to a climate congenial to them, 
 though a sigh may arise for the loss of their country, and this 
 most certainly happens, but as frequently from a different 
 cause. Indeed they cannot have an idea that you would use 
 them so well, merely to change their masters, but often 
 think they are fattening to be eaten. To convince them of 
 their mistake, when a slave dies, they are all called on deck 
 to see him thrown overboard ; and when once assured that we 
 are not cannibals, their good humour returns, and they are 
 known sometimes to express a wish for the ship to sail. I 
 am certain the idea of the application of a whip, will, to 
 many, cause a sigh; but this is, at least, as frequently used 
 in their own country, vv^hile it is never applied in a well regu- 
 lated ship, but in terroreyn, as they are extremely apt to be 
 sulky during the voyage, and will not eat. 
 
 The consequences of the abolition of the slave-trade, will, 
 I fear, be too soon apparent, unless the wisdom of parliament 
 should induce th6m to repeal the bill. By its continuance, 
 a principal nursery for our navy will be destroyed. The 
 Americans and others will supply our colonies at an exorbi- 
 tant price; and even then they will not take our produce, 
 with which we are already overstocked almost to our ruin. 
 
 On the 10th of February we got under weigh for England, 
 and the ship was immediately put upon short allowance of 
 water. Sunday, the 16th, we were obliged to punis'h three 
 men for stealing of water, it being now a crime of the most 
 atrocious nature; and if not immediately stopped, might, in 
 the end, be productive of the loss of the cartel. Nothing par- 
 ticular happened until the 20th, when such an immense shoal 
 of porpoises swam round, that the sea appeared covered with 
 them as far as our large glasses could reach ; and soon a fin- 
 back whale made his appearance, and swam some time under 
 
34 spilsbury's voyage to Africa. 
 
 our bows. This was in lat. 9.56 long. 19.2. We were still on 
 one quart of water a day. 
 
 March 2nd. Several flying fish flew on board. We let the 
 people bathe, always lowering a boat down, and keeping a 
 good look out. 
 
 March 6th. We fell in with H. M. S. Woolwich, bound to 
 the East Indies, who made us a present of some English com 
 beef and potatoes, a present to us highly acceptable, as also 
 a supply of water. We sent six men in her, among which was 
 our old Stewart ; the captain of the Woolwich was at this time 
 lying dead. 
 
 March 29th. Saw land about Cape Clear, N. E. by N. 
 seven or eight miles ; took on board a pilot, and came to 
 anchor in Crook Haven. We had no sooner anchored, than 
 the vessel was surrounded with boats, bartering for old 
 clothes or rice. This sudden change from short allowance of 
 salt provisions to fresh, I was fearful, would have produced 
 some serious consequences, but I was happily disappointed. 
 I thought the men would never 'have been satisfied. Milk, 
 eggs, broiled fowls, &c., were all day long, in a state of requi- 
 sition between decks; and though there was no room for the 
 men to lay side by side, yet now they made room for fresh 
 messmates, and the ship was crowded with young pigs, 
 turkies, geese, ducks, &c., as well as lambs; the whole pre- 
 senting such a scene, as it is impossible to describe ; the cooks 
 were at work all day long, and all these luxuries were inde- 
 pendent of their fresh beef. Here one of our ladies, who had 
 been with us all this war, was brought to bed of a fine girl; 
 we pittied her situation; and, to add to the scene, one of our 
 men having said on shore, that the lady wanted a nurse, a 
 poor unfortunate girl, about seventeen, came off to attend 
 her; but this the captain and officers knew nothing of, until 
 the ship was at sea for England. Here the mate and surgeon 
 of the Trio deserted, when under weigh, it being rather calm. 
 The captain had sent the boat a-'head to tow, with two men 
 and a boy, but instead of which, they pulled ashore and ran 
 away. We had no fire arms nor any other boat, and were 
 unable to prevent their escape. 
 
 On the 8th of April we came to anchor at Falmouth, with 
 feelings whic'h it would not be easy to describe, after the 
 sufferings which, in so short a time, we had experienced. I 
 believe the most dissolute man on board the cartel returned 
 heartfelt thanks to Providence, for being once more restored 
 in safety to his native land. 
 
 END OF spilsbury's VOYAGE TO AFRICA. 
 
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