Captaincy of Rlos de Senna. 71 



discourage these pursuits; the loss of thirty slaves here not 

 being of such consequence as of two in America, since here 

 they can easily and certainly be replaced, together with the 

 assistance which the colonial farmers derive from the births 

 of slaves in their own houses, and on their lands. This, how- 

 ever, was not the case in the present establishment, which was 

 of necessity undertaken with slaves newly purchased from the 

 interior, who of course were not equal to those, who being 

 born in the colony, were attached to their native place, and 

 were more willing to work than those brought from the 

 interior to labor in a strange land ; and who, moreover, 

 took every opportunity of returning to their homes. But if 

 we consider the difference of price here and in America, 

 where one slave costs 100 dollars, and in the colocy of the 

 Rios de Senna only four, the loss becomes comparatively 

 trifling. In addition to this, the Captaincy possesses another 

 advantage over America, which is, that two or three hundred 

 slaves may at any time be procured in as many months. 



All these reflections tend to prove what I have continually 

 advanced, that the Captaincy of the Rios de Senna may, from 

 the numerous advantages to be derived from it, be made a 

 most beneficial and useful colony. But that this desirable 

 end may be obtained, it. is essentially necessary that the 

 industry of the inhabitants should be directed to the com- 

 merce of agricultural productions hitherto totally neglected. 

 Every possible means, too, should be used to augment the 

 population, as without a great increase of that nothing can be 

 undertaken. And when it shall be so enlarged, that the 

 interior commerce cannot satisfy all of them, necessity will 

 lead them to become husbandmen, from Avhose labours, more 

 solid wealth will be derived, than from a very hazardous and 

 precarious traffic, and from mines nearly exhausted. 



Tette, Uth July, 1820. 



Extracts, Sfc. calculated to assist inquiry as to the 

 probable or actual existence of Coal in any given 

 district.* 



Characters of the. Coal formation.— -Though the appearance of 

 the outward surface gives no certain or infallible rule to judge 

 of the kinds of strata ly'ing beneath, yet it gives a probable 

 one ; for it is generally found that a chain of mountains or hills 



i A prevailing belief that Coal exists on the South-East coast of the 

 colony, and that accurate examination i- alone requisite to discover it, has 

 of i ' i oilucing- the "Extracts, &c."— (Eds.) 



