LIFE OF MUNGO PARK. 
lix 
*' We had a very tedious passage to the Cape Verd 
Islands, being detained by storms and contrary winds in 
the Bay of Biscay, so that we did not reach St. Jago till 
the 8th of March. I immediately set about purchasing the 
asses, corn, hay, &c. and succeeded so well that on the 
18th I had embarked forty-four asses with plenty of corn 
and hay. The master of the transport declared that he 
could not receive any more consistent!}^ with the safety of 
the vessel. We sailed for Goree on the 21st. While we 
were getting under way, six English ships of the line, one 
of them a three decker, came into the Bay. They did not 
hail us ; one of them had an Admiral's blue flag at the 
mizen. 
** We made the coast of Africa on the 25th, and an- 
chored in Goree roads on the morning of the 28th. I imme- 
diately went on shore, and having delivered the dispatches 
to Major Lloyd, consulted with him respecting the proper 
encouragement to be offered to the troops. We agreed 
that nothing would be so great an inducement as double 
pay during the journey, and a discharge on their return. 
A Garrison order to this effect was accordingly made out; 
and in the course of a few days almost every soldier in the 
Garrison had volunteered his services. Lieutenant Martyn 
of the Royal Artillery Corps having likewise volunteered, 
I thought it would be of consequence to have an officer 
who was acquainted with the men, and who could assist 
me in choosing such as were best able to stand fatigue. I 
therefore accepted his services on the conditions mentioned 
in Lord Camden's letter. Captain Shortland, of the Squirrel 
Frigate, has allowed two of his best seamen to go with me 
