JONE 27, 1859.J ADDITIONAL NOTICES. ' 377 



7. Account of a Visit to the King of Btir Sin, 64 miles to the North of the 

 Gambia. By Col. Luke Smyth O'Connor, c.b., f.r.g.s. 



Communicated by the Colonial Office. 



Government House, Bathurst, Gambia, 24th January, 1856. 

 Sir, — I have the honour to transmit a treaty of amity and commerce entered 

 into by me with " Bucarie Chillas," King of " Bur Sin," at his Majesty's 

 seaport " Joal," on the 22nd instant. 



The 23rd of December special messengers arrived at Bathnrst bearing a 

 letter from the King of " Bur Sin," and a request that I would meet him at 

 Joal, " where he would wait my arrival." 



I arranged to leave in her Majesty's colonial steamer Dover the 3rd of 

 January, i)ut a report of the Mahometans of Combo assembling at the King of 

 Jambool's induced me to tarry until the 23rd instant, when I proceeded to 

 Joal, situated 64 miles north of Bathurst, and about 26 south of Goree. 



A deep shallow bay indents the coast from the Red Bank (fatal to so 

 many vessels) to Joal, which cannot be approached nearer than 3 miles by 

 ships drawing more than 8 feet of water. 



At particular seasons of the year, and when the wind blows on shore, 

 the fearful rollers and a heavy surf render either disembarking or embarking 

 impossible, and any unlucky craft once embayed becomes a wreck, which the 

 natives seize upon, plunder the cargo, break up the vessel, even to the last 

 copper bolt, and carry away the crew into the interior, no matter of what 

 nation or complexion they may be. 



In January, 1853, Captain Barron, of the United States sloop of war 

 Jermytown, visited me at Bathurst, having been at Joal to demand restitution 

 of an American ship which had been wrecked and thus summarily treated ; but 

 as he quaintly remarked, " ' A pretty demand ! ' the king and chiefs said ; 

 " God had sent them the vessel and cargo ; the white ])eople were at some 

 short distance, and, being useless, would be given up to their countrymen." 



Captain Barron's view was correct ; you might land an army at Joal, 

 and, unless the natives chose to accede to your request, " all demands " 

 would be futile, for they have only to withdraw to the desert, and leave 

 climate, fatigue, and drought to combat for them. 



I therefore deemed it a very desirable object to meet half-way the king's 

 propositions — 



'• To open trade between Sin and Gambia, to secure and protect all 

 vessels and persons wrecked on his shores :" and I have had the satisfaction of 

 being the first English, if not European Governor, who ever visited this wild 

 and singular people ; but, what is of far more importance to the cause of 

 humanity and civilization, accomplished every object 1 desired in making the 

 treaty. 



Having anchored off Joal on the evening of the 21st instant, I despatched 

 the king's messengers, my own interpreter, and Massara, the chief of the 

 Gambia Mahometans, and a native of Bur Sin, to pay my respects to the king, 

 who returned his " compliments and thanks for my visit, he having stood on 

 the beach five weeks to receive me, and that three canoes would be with me in 

 the morning for my people." 



I landed on the 22nd at 10 o'clock, accompanied by Mr. Fenton, Acting 

 Chief Justice; Mr. Chown, a Bathurst merchant ; Lieutenant O'Shaughnessy, 

 and 14 men of the 2nd and 3rd West India regiments as a guard, more for 

 display than necessity. 



A shelving shore of rocks and thick fetid mud covered with seaweed 

 trefids inwards. The strand was covered with natives of all ages, perfectly 



