The GUINEA Trade.
An extensive Trade, in a moral Sense, is an extensive Evil, obvious to those who can see how Fraud, Thieving, and Executions have kept pace with it. The great Excess in Branches feeding Pride and Luxury, are an Oppression on the Publick; and the Peculiarity of it in this, and the Settlement of Colonies are Infringements on the Peace and Happiness of Mankind.
By discoursing on this particular Branch, I do not pretend to a Sufficiency of giving full Directions; the Natives Alteration and Diversity of Taste are Obstacles with the most experienced: It’s only within my Design to give a general Insight to such as are Strangers, and a Rule to improve upon by such as are not.
We may for this end divide Guinea into a windward Coast, the Gold Coast, and the Bay, a Tract of 6 or 700 Leagues from the River Gambia, in 13°° N. to Angola, about 9 or 10°° S. The Portuguese were the first Europeans that settled and built Forts here, tho’ now the least concerned, paying their Tribute to the Dutch for Leave: What remains of theirs is to the Southward on the River Congo at Loango de St. Paul, and the Islands, where they keep Priests to teach their Language to the Natives, and baptize without making Christians.
1. In the windward Coast, Gambia, Sierraleon, and Sherbro Rivers may be reckoned chief; the African Company having Factors and Settlements there. Less noted, but more frequented by private Ships in this part of Guinea, are Cape Mont, and Montzerado, Sesthos River, Capes Palmas, Apollonia, and Tres Puntas. A number of others intervene, of more or less Trade; which it is their Custom to signify at the sight of any Ship by a Smoke, and is always looked on as an Invitation to Trade; but as each is alterable among them from the Chance of War, the Omission shews they decline it, or are out of Stock.
This Change of Circumstance found on different Voyages, proceeds from weak and bad Governments among themselves, every Town having their own Cabiceers or ruling Men, (or it may be three or four in Confederacy) all so jealous of the others Panyarring, that they never care to walk even a mile or two from home without Fire-Arms; each knows it is their Villanies and Robberies upon one another that enables them to carry on a Slave-trade with Europeans; and as Strength fluctuates, it is not unfrequent for him who sells you Slaves to-day, to be a few days hence sold himself at some neighbouring Town; this I have known.
The same way of reasoning answers for the Panyarrs and Murders so frequently between them and us, and never that I heard with the French or Portuguese. For if any of our Ships from Bristol or Liverpool play tricks, and under pretence of Traffick seize and carry away such of them as come on board, and trust themselves on that Confidence, the Friends and Relations never fail with the first Opportunity to revenge it; they never consider the Innocence of who comes next, but as Relations in Colour, Panyarr the Boat’s Crews who trust themselves foolishly on shore, and now and then by dissembling a Friendship, have come on board, surprized and murdered a whole Ship’s Company. Captain Piercy’s Lieutenant was killed on shore on some such Pretence, or because he had a good Suit of Cloaths, or both. Captain Canning of the Dove Brigantine 1732, was cut off by the Natives of Grand Bassau from an Inadvertency; first, of tempting the Negroes with the sight of a fine Cargo, and then by trusting the Mate Mr. Tho. Coote on shore; the one prompted them to rob, and the other was an Hostage for their Security, they ventured off in their Canoos and murdered all the Company under the Conduct of a Fellow they called Thomas Grey, who run the Vessel in shore; the Mate remained with them unhurt, about sixteen days, and was then redeemed by Captain Wheeler for 17 Pounds worth of Goods, which as an Encouragement to the Service, he was suffered to repay at London. His Food during the stay, was Indian Corn, Rice, Snails and Monkeys; the last they shoot as often as they want, in the Woods, and after the Guts are taken out, singe the Hair off, and then boil it in the Skin. He saw no other Flesh in this part of the Country, excepting a few Fowls, tho’ he was up it above twelve miles.
2. The Gold Coast is the middle and smallest part of the Division, stretching from Axiem a Dutch Settlement, to near the River Volta, an extent of 70 or 80 Leagues, but of more consequence than the others, in respect to our’s and the Dutch Company’s Forts, who together command the greatest part of it. There is one Danish Fort at Accra indeed, (the Leewardmost of our Settlements) but in a decaying State, and will probably (as that of the Brandenburghers at Cape Tres Puntas) be relinquished in a little time.