1 6 discoveries in Africa, Sept. 5, 



pital of WoolH, where he was kindly and hospitablj 

 received. 



* The town of Medina,' he says, ' is situated at 

 the distance of about 9C0 miles, by water, from the 

 entrance of the Gambia ; and the country adjacent 

 abounds with corn and cattle ; and, generally speak- 

 ing, in all tilings that are requisite for the support, 

 OT efsential to the comfort of life.' 



In a letter from this place to his wife, major 

 Houghton, * delighted with the healthinefs of the 

 country, the abundance of the game, the security 

 with which he made his excursions on horseback, 

 and above all, with the advantages that would attend 

 the erection of a fort on the salubrious and beautiful 

 hill of Fatetenda, here the Englifh once had a fac- 

 tory, he exprefses his earnest hope that his wife will 

 hereafter accompany him to a place, in which an in- 

 come often pounds a year will support them in af- 

 fl-uence ; and that Ihe will participate with him in the 

 pleasure of rapidly acquiring that vast wealth which 

 he imagines its commerce will afford.' 



His prospects however were, for tlie present, sud- 

 denly blasted. A fire consumed almost all his trea- 

 sures, together with a great part of the town. His 

 interpreter ran off with his cavalry, — a trade gun 

 which he had purchased in the river, burst in his 

 hand, and wounded him severely, — yet not suc- 

 cumbing, he proceeded for Bambouk, in company 

 with a slave merchant, ' on the eighth of May, bj 

 moonlight, and on foot, with two afses, which the 

 sei'vant of the slave merchant ofFered to drive with 

 bis own, and which carried the ",vreck of his for- 



