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 an- 
nual ships; and I am informed that the gross value of British 
exports is under £20,000. The French and Danes still main- 
tain 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, spirituous 
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 exported from 
the Gambia by all nations, is supposed to be under one thou- 
sand. 
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 
