DRIVE IN THE GOVERNOR'S CARRIAGE. 49 



George McLean, Esq. who insisted that we 

 should take up our quarters with him while we 

 stayed at Cape Coast. At his table we met se- 

 veral gentlemen connected with and resident in 

 the colony ; and certainly their appearance did 

 not tend to confirm the generally-received opi- 

 nion of the extreme unhealthiness of the climate : 

 if they were unhealthy, they did not appear so ; 

 and if unhappy, their countenances and behaviour 

 belied them, for more cheerful and pleasant com- 

 panions I had never before met with. 



On the day after our arrival, the governor 

 treated me to a drive in his light carriage. 

 When the reader is informed that he drove four- 

 in-hand, he must not imagine that horses are here 

 meant. The governor's carriage of Cape Coast 

 Castle was drawn by four negroes, natives of the 

 soil, who tramped along right merrily at the rate 

 of five miles per hour. At first I was somewhat 

 shocked at what seemed to me a little stretch of 

 power ; but discovered that the honour of being 

 put into harness in the governor's carriage was 

 eagerly sought for by the natives, and that those 

 who were selected for the service were objects of 

 envy among their countrymen. During the drive 

 we had much conversation respecting the inter- 



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