| At Apollonia. | |
| Accys. | |
| 2 Photees | 14 |
| 2 Cotton Ramals | 8 |
| 1 Piece Longee | 4 |
| 2 Sletias | 5 |
| 7 Sheets | 7 |
| 32 Brass Pans | 32 |
| --- | |
| A Man Slave | 70 |
| 3 Photees | 21 |
| 41 Sheets | 41 |
| 2 Longees | 8 |
| --- | |
| A Man Slave | 70 |
| At Gambia. | |
| Gold Bars. | |
| 9 Gallons of Brandy | 9 |
| 6 Bars of Iron | 6 |
| 2 Small Guns | 10 |
| 1 Cag of Powder | 10 |
| 2 Strings of Pacato Beads | 2 |
| 1 Paper Sletia | 3 |
| --- | |
| A Woman Slave | 40 |
| At Assinee. | |
| 8 Trading Guns | 32 |
| 1 Wicker Bottle | 4 |
| 2 Cases of Spirits | 6 |
| 28 Sheets | 28 |
| --- | |
| A Man Slave | 70 |
As I propos’d only a general View of the Trade, I have pointed out here the best I could, what Goods are asked for, the Price, and at some places, the Proportion; the Slaves selling at a Medium of 15l. a Man, and 12l. a Woman; a Gun and Barrel of Powder being always parts of the Truck (at Cabenda) for a Slave. They have Canoos there, will carry 200 Men; matted Sails to them, and Cordage twisted from a wild Vine that grows in plenty about the Country; with these they pass frequently from Congo to Loango. A Slave-Ship in the former River would intercept much of the Trade to Cabenda and Angola: The Duties are easy with the King of Soni, and the Harmony they live in with a few defenceless Portuguese Missionaries, shews they are a peaceable People.
A Second Requisite for Success in this Trade, is an acquaintance with the Places, what may be expected at them, either as to the Manner of Trading, bold or fearful of one another, and the Number of Slaves they are able to bring.
Where the Company’s Factors are settled, as at Gambia, and along the greatest part of the Gold Coast, they influence the Trade something against private Ships; so also at Sierraleon some separate Traders live, who voyage it with Boats into the adjacent Rivers, and most of what a Ship can purchase, is thro’ their hands; but those from London seldom strike higher upon the Coast than Cape Mount, Montzerado, and Junk, falling from thence down to Leeward; many of the places in their Course being rendered dangerous, from the Tricks and Panyarrs the Traders have first practised upon the Negroes; a mutual Jealousy now keeping each side very watchful against Violence. We trade on board the Ship, often keeping our Sailors in close quarters abaft, because few: while the Slaves are viewing and contracting for at the fore part; at night also keeping a good Watch, some of these Negroes attempting now and then to steal with their Canoos athwart your Hawse, and cut the Cable. Captain Cummin at Whydah, they stranded 1734.
They again, are as often diffident of coming nigh us, and will play for hours together in their Canoos about the Ship, before they dare venture. In this windward part, I have before observed, they have a superstitious Custom, of dropping with their Finger a drop of Sea-Water in their Eye, which they are pleased when answered in, and passes for an Engagement of Peace and Security; and yet after all this Ceremony, they will sometimes return to shore: If hardy enough to come on board, they appear all the time shy and frightned, and from the least appearance of a Panyarr, jump all over board. Downwards to Bassam, Assinee, Jaquelahou, Cape le Hou, Jaque a Jaques, Cape Apollonia, and Three Points, or where they have possibly gained a Knowledge of the English Factorys, there is a better Understanding and Security: These are places that sell off a number of Slaves, managed however wholly on board the Ships who anchor before the Town, hoist their Ensign, and fire a Gun: Or when the Natives seem timorous, do it by their Boats coasting along the Beach, and pay at some of them a small Duty to the chief Cabiceers.
Thirdly, To give dispatch, cajole the Traders with Dashees of Brandy, and tell them, you cannot possibly stay above a day or two, and that on their account. To a Country-Man, if he joins where there is prospect of Goodee Trade, you are to form some Story that may carry him farther to Leeward if possible, (two or three Leagues will hinder his doing you any Damage for that Voyage.) The Lye did me most Service, and for which I had the Merchant’s Dispensation, was informing my good Friend that at Cobelahou they had taken a great number of Captives, and that Captain —— had got his Freight there in ten days: this I did with an air of Diffidence, to make the greater Impression, and at the same time dashee’d his Negro Friends to go on board and back it. If on better Intelligence such like Story should not take, and he resolves to stay and share, your Reputation is secured by the diffidence of your Report, and you must resolve with him now upon a Price in your Slaves, not to outbid one another; but at the same time make as strong a Resolution not to observe it. And here the Master has room to display his talent, the frequency of the Trick having made all very cautious and diffident.