376 A. D. 1763. 



ber of veflels, and carry on an extenfive trade upon the lake, and up the 

 river into the country of Banibarina, the chiefs of which are extolled 

 for their politenefs and civility. 



From this great country comes above one half of the gold, and mofi; 

 of th.e flaves purchafed at Senegal and Gambia, and almofl all the flaves 

 and gold of Morocco, Algier, Tunis, and the Levant. 



This valuable country might very eafily be explored by means of 

 fome of the natives of Senegal ; and the author of this account is able 

 to point out fome men of fenfe and fidelity, mafters of Arabic learning, 

 and every way capable of undertaking the bufinefs *. 



November 21" — The lords of trade and plantations gave notice, in 

 the London gazette, that all perfons defirous of grants of lands in Eaft 

 Florida and Weft Florida, for the purpofe of railing filk, cotton, wine, 

 oil, cochineal, indigo, &c. might apply to Mr. Povvnall, their fecretary, 

 without delay. 



The quantity of filk produced in Georgia this year was only 953 

 pounds, which was 87 pounds lefs than the produce of the preceding 

 year f . 



Mr. Martin Kuyck Van Mierop, a member of the Ruffian company, 

 who had been a faftor in Perfia from the commencement of the trade 

 to the termination of it (nine years), reprefented as proofs of the great 

 advantages to be derived from the trade to Perfia through Rufiia, that 

 it was carried on entirely with Britifh manufadures, tin, cochineal, indi- 

 go, and coral beads, but that nineteen parts in twenty of the whole va- 

 lue confifted of woollen goods, and that no money nor bills were re- 

 quired — that almoft the whole of the returns to England were in raw 

 filk — that the lilk fent to Europe by the Ruffian and Armenian mer- 

 chants, owing to unfair packing, fold 20 per cent lower than what is 

 fent by the Engliih faftors. The roads from Ghilan to Smyrna and 

 Aleppo being utterly impaflable during the convulfions in Perfia, it is 

 now impoffible for the Turkey company to import any filk ; therefor 

 it is of the utmoft confequence, that liberty be fecured by the treaty, 

 now negotiating with Ruffia, to carry on that trade J. 



* with Mr. Barnes's account of the interior part J The firft treaty with RufTia, after this time, 



of Africa agiees that of Mr. George G!as, a na- was in the year 1766, and no fuch trade is men- 



vigator, (but originally bred to meiiicinc) who, tioncd in it. 



by refiding in South Barbarj-, acquired confider- The route recommended by Mr. Van Mierop is 



able knowlege of the trade of the country. We aftually ufed by the Aruicnians in their trade be- 



ihall afterwards find Mr. Glas propofiiig to open tween Perfia and Holland, if I am rightly inform- 



a new channel of trade on the African coaft. ed. And the fame route was recominendcd to 



f There was an acco,snt, publiflied in the newf- llic Englifli Ruffia company in the year 1740, by 

 papers, of 15,000 poundsofcocconsbeing brought Captain Elton, who was acquainted with the na- 

 to the filature in Georgia, which was held out as vigation of the Cafpian fea. At their defire he 

 a proof of the great advantage of that culture, and made a joumey into Perfia, by the route he pro- 

 of the profperity of the province. The writer of pofed, and obtained from Rifan Guleo Mirfa, the 

 that paragraph was not aware of the great num- eldeft fon of Nadir Shach, and fole regent of Per- 

 bcr of pounds of cocoons required to make one fia, a mod favourable grant of trade for the ' Ho- 

 pound of filk. 4 



