•206 NARRATIVE. 



the Government-House, whence he was sent to take up his abode 

 with the other liberated Africans. The truth of his story, with all 

 its details, has been sworn to, and I am sorry to say, is not the 

 only instance of French slaving, to which I have been almost a 

 witness. 



James Fort is immediately opposite to Albreda, on an island 

 three-quarters of a mile in extent, and is now a mere ruin. It 

 formerly possessed great strength, and mounted twenty guns, but 

 was blown up by the French". 



A new settlement has been formed about four hundred miles up 

 the river'', on an island, supposed to be four leagues long, and 

 called M*" Carthy, in honour of the late Governor-General. It is 

 said to be much more healthy than Bathurst. About twenty 

 soldiers commanded by a serjeant, keep possession of it ; and the 

 discharged soldiers of the Second West India Regiment were 

 proceeding thither when I left the Gambia, land having been 

 granted to each, to build on and to cultivate, thus forming a 

 settlement, which, from its situation, is likely to be very flourishing. 

 It already possesses an English factory, and would be a very 

 desirable residence for the scientific traveller, who would there be 

 able to form some rich collections, and make some very valuable 

 observations on an unknown part of Africa, while he would enjoy 

 ample protection, and could reach it without difficulty. A Wes- 

 leyan missionary is about to establish a school there, and as he is 

 an amiable, indefatigable man, inured by several years' residence 



o I was much amused by a perusal of Francis Moore's description of the Gambia, 

 in 1738. It is written with much simphcity, and enables us to compare the former 

 with the present state of affairs. I am sorry to add, that not the shghtest improve- 

 ment seems to have taken place among the natives, since that period, although we 

 have been in possession of the settlements more than a hundred years. 



P The river is said to be navigable many miles beyond this island, but that large 

 vessels cannot even reach this part, in consequence of the bar at Barracunda. 



