WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA, 



ON the western coast of Africa, proceeding southv/ards from the 

 empire of Morocco, we pass the country of Zahara, inhabited by- 

 Moorish and Arab tribes, called the Monselemines, MongeartSj 

 Wadelims, and Trasarts, who extend nearly to the mouth of the 

 river Senegal, where the French had a fort and factory, and were 

 entire masters of the gum trade. It is called Fort Louis, was taken 

 by the English in 1758, and confirmed to them by the peace of 1763 ; 

 but in 1783, it was restored to France. Near Cape Verd is the island 

 of Goree, considered as one of the safest, pleasantest, and most im- 

 portant settlements in all Africa. It was subject to France, but has 

 been lately taken by the English. To the southward of Cape Verd, 

 in latitude 8 deg. 12 min. north, and about 12 deg. Ion. west, is the 

 settlement of Sierra Leone, formed from the purest motives of hu- 

 manity, under the patronage of a very~ respectable society of gentle- 

 men in London, in the year 1791. The benevolent purposes for which, 

 it was intended are, to introduce the light of knowledge and the com- 

 forts of civilization into Africa, and to cement and perpetuate the most 

 confidential union between the European colony and the natives of 

 that country. 



A settlement of a similar nature was formed upon the island of 

 Bulam, on the same coast, to the eastward of the island of Bisgos. 

 But this is now entirely relinquished. A great part of the colonists 

 were massacred by the natives of the shore at the mouth of the river 

 Gambia, who were accustomed to make annual plantations of rice in 

 Bulam. The surviving colonists took refuge among their country- 

 men at Sierra Leone. 



In the latter end of September 1794, a French squadron attacked 

 this settlement, carried off or destroyed all the stores and whatever 

 they could find belonging to the company, and burned all the public 

 buildings and houses of the Europeans, and several likewise (as they 

 said, by mistake) of those of the negroe colonists. The colony, how- 

 ever, has not been abandoned, but the directors have taken such 

 measures as have repaired their losses, and will no doubt tend still 

 more to increase the trade and cultivation of the settlement. The 

 colonists are on the happiest terms of friendship with the natives, and 

 make great progress in clearing and improving the lands allotted 

 them. 



The country or coast of Guinea (or Upper Guinea) extends from 12 

 deg. west Ion. to 8 deg. east, nearly in the parallel of 6 deg. north Iat. 

 It comprehends the Grain Coast, the Tooth Coast, the -Gold Coast, 

 the Slave Coast (which includes Whidah and Ardrah, now subject to 

 Dahomy) and Benin. The principal kingdom on these coasts is Da- 

 homy, the monarch of which subdued and annexed to his dominions 

 Whidah and Aradrah between the years 1724 and 1727, The country 



