INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 25 
officers ; eight factors, thirteen writers, twenty inferior attend- 
ants and tradesmen ; a company of soldiers, and thirty-two 
Negro servants, besides sloops, shallops, and boats, with their 
crews ; and there were no less than eight subordinate factories 
in other parts of the river. 
The trade with Europe, by being afterwards laid open, was 
almost annihilated ; the share which the subjects of England at 
this time hold in it, supports not more than two or three annual 
ships ; and I am informed that the gross value of British exports 
is under £20,000. The French and Danes still maintain a 
small share, and the Americans have lately sent a few vessels 
to the Gambia by way of experiment. 
The commodities exported to the Gambia from Europe con- 
sist chiefly of fire-arms and ammunition, iron ware, spiritu- 
ous liquors, tobacco, cotton caps, a small quantity of broad 
cloth, and a few articles of the manufacture of Manchester ; a 
small assortment of India goods, with some glass beads, amber, 
and other trifles : for which are taken in exchange slaves, gold- 
dust, ivory, bees-wax, and hides. Slaves are the chief article, 
but the whole number which at this time are annually ex- 
ported from the Gambia by all nations, is supposed to be under 
one thousand. 
Most of these unfortunate victims are brought to the Coast in 
periodical caravans ; many of them from very remote inland 
countries ; for the language which they speak is not understood 
by the inhabitants of the maritime districts. In a subsequent 
part of my work I shall give the best information I have been 
able to collect concerning the manner in which they are ob- 
E 
