A new account of Guinea, and the slave-trade

by William Snelgrave

In this Country of Guinea, the English have trafficked a great many Years: But especially, since the Conclusion of the last French War, it has been so improved, that whereas in the Year 1712, there went only 33 Ships from England to that Coast, in 1726, it was proved before the Commissioners of Trade, that there had been there the Year before above 200 Sail, to the great increase of Navigation, and the advantage of our Plantations in America.

Such as are unacquainted with this Country, may reasonably suppose we should have gained by this time a perfect account of the Inland-Parts; yet perhaps we know the least of it of any Country the English have so long traded to, for reasons I shall give hereafter. But as I design only to inform the Reader, (for his better understanding the following Sheets) in a cursory manner, of those parts of the Coast of Guinea, that I have been personally acquainted with: So, as I go along, I shall intermix my Reasons with the Account.

I have traded along this Coast for near 700 Leagues, from a River called Sherberow, in the Latitude of 7 Degrees 30 Minutes North, to Cape Lopez Gonsalvez, in 1 Degree South, near the Coast of Angola: Now in so large an Extent, we meet with very different People and Trade.

The first part I shall mention, is about 250 Leagues in length, from the above-mentioned River of Sherberow, round Cape Palmas, to the River Ancober near Axim. This is commonly called the Windward Coast, on which there is no Settlement or Factory of any European Nation; but the Trade is carried on in this manner.

As soon as the Natives perceive a Ship on their Coast, they make a smoke on the Sea-Shore, as a Signal for the Ship to come to an Anchor, that they may come and trade with the People on board. As soon as we are at an Anchor, they come to us in small Boats, called Cannoes, being made of a single Tree, and bring their Commodities with them.

Along the greatest part of this Coast, the Europeans have been cautious of venturing on Shore amongst the Natives, they being very barbarous and uncivilized, as several have experienced to their cost. In those few places where I have been on Shore my self, I could never obtain a satisfactory account from the Natives of the Inland Parts. Nor did I ever meet with a white Man that had been, or durst venture himself, up in the Country; and believe, if any had attempted it, the Natives would have destroyed them, out of a Jealousy that they designed to make discoveries to their prejudice.

However, the Trade on this part of the Coast, has been exceedingly improved within these 20 years past. It consists in Negroes, Elephants Teeth, and other Commodities; which the Natives freely bring on board our Ships, except when any Affront has been offered them; which, to the great Scandal both of English and French, has too often been done, namely by their forcibly carrying away the Traders, under some slight pretence of having received an Injury from them. And this has put a stop to the Trade of the particular place where it has happened for a long time; and innocent People, who have come there to trade in small Vessels, have suffered for their Countrymens Villany: Several in my time having been surprized by the Natives, and the People destroyed out of revenge.

From the aforementioned River of Ancober to Acra, is about 50 Leagues. This part is commonly called the Gold-Coast, and thereon are many English and Dutch Factories, under each of which is a Negroe Town, protected by them. The Reader may reasonably suppose, that here we might have a perfect account of the Inland parts; but we can have no such thing. For the Policy of the Natives does not suffer white Men to go up any great way into the Country. Moreover, the Inland People are very jealous of those Negroes, who are under the Protection of the Factories; so that the account I have received from both when at peace (which has brought some of the former to the Sea side) has seemed so fabulous and contradictory, that it could not be depended upon; for the Negroes are very apt to impose on us. However, in this part called the Gold Coast, the Natives near the Sea side are much civilized, by their conversing with the Europeans, at their Settlements; and by going on board so many Ships to trade, as frequent this part of the Coast. Here we can venture on Shore amongst the Natives, without any hazard; for ’tis to be noted, a large part of the Gold Coast is not in Subjection to them.

From Acra (where stands the last of the European Settlements, on this part of the Coast,) to Jaqueen, is about 60 Leagues. In this Tract there are no Factories but at two places, namely at Whidaw, and Jaqueen. And tho’ they have been so long settled by the Europeans, yet till the late Conquest of them by the King of Dahomè, we could learn but little of the Inland parts; no white Men having been permitted to go beyond the Kingdom of Ardra, which is about 50 Miles from the Sea side. But, as I have related in the following Sheets what I saw and heard when I was there; so I omit farther mention of it here.

From Jaqueen to the Bay of Bennin, and so round to the Callabars, Camerones, and Cape Lopez, is above 300 Leagues, in which long Tract there is no Settlement of any European Nation; so of course the Natives are for the most part barbarous and uncivilized. I have, in my younger years, traded to many places in this Tract, especially at Old Callabar, where, in the year 1704, I saw a sad Instance of Barbarity. The King of the place, called Jabrue, being fallen sick, he caused, by the advice of his Priests, a young Child about ten Months old, to be sacrificed to his God, for his recovery. I saw the Child after it was killed, hung up on the Bough of a Tree, with a live Cock tied near it, as an addition to the Ceremony.