Liberia «*- 



at the mouth of the little river,^ and a large at that of the 

 great river. This last is called ' the king's island,' though he 

 never resides there. But some of his slaves raise cattle and 

 poultry on it for his use. [The king gave this island to the 

 Chevalier, and very much pressed him to settle on it.] It is 

 never overflowed, even by the great annual inundations, which, 

 as in the Niger, take place in July, August, and September. 

 This island is two leagues long and three-quarters of a league 

 broad. Its soil is excellent, as appears from the size and 

 height of the trees, which also evince its depth. The winds, 

 which blow without intermission, render it very temperate. The 

 only inconvenience it labours under is the want of fresh water, 

 which must be brought from springs on the continent. But 

 these are at no great distance, and are very abundant." 



" The tide flows twenty leagues [a great exaggeration] up 

 the Mesurado, at the equinoxes, and eight or nine during 

 the rest of the year. In July, August, and September the 

 water is brackish only three leagues up, owing to the rapidity of 

 the stream in these months ; four or five leagues up the water 

 is perfectly sweet." 



The king who reigned in 1727 was called Captain Peter, 

 a name which had long been common to the kings of Mesurado. 

 When dealing with the Dutch and English, both parties took 

 every precaution against roguery. They were armed, hostages 

 were exchanged, and mutual caution observed. The French, - 

 on the contrary, traded there without the least suspicion. The 

 natives put themselves in their power, went on board French 

 ships without fear, and on all occasions manifested the most 



1 This " little " river is now called the Mesurado River or lagoon. It is a tidal 

 creek. The " large Island " would be Bushrod Island, and the " small," Providence 

 Island."— H. H. J. 



^ The French, through the Senegal Company, began a renewed intercourse 

 with Northern Liberia at the close of the seventeenth century. 



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