ACCRA. 337 



speed. Passing Winnaba and Devil's Mountain, 

 we arrived at Accra at 4 p.m., the distance from 

 Cape Coast Castle being about 70 miles. 



From the roadstead Accra impresses one with 

 an idea of importance, as besides the two forts — 

 St. James's belonging to the English, and Crevecoeur 

 to the Dutch — a long line of cliff, about twenty 

 feet above the sea, is studded with palatial-looking 

 establishments and European residences, the native 

 town being behind and almost hidden from view. 

 There appears to be no line of demarcation between 

 British and Dutch Accra, and their contiguity 

 ruins both towns, as all proposals of co-operation 

 have been rejected. We charge an ad valorem 

 import duty of about three per cent on all goods 

 landed, whilst they have established a free port ; 

 the consequence is that our traders are not able 

 to compete with theirs, for time is no object to 

 a negro, who will walk ten miles to save a penny. 

 Major De Ruvignes, the Civil Commandant of 

 Accra, came on board, and, in accordance with 

 that hospitality which is proverbial on the coast, 

 invited Governor Freeman, Colonel Smith, Doctor 

 z 



