ADDENDA. 
XV 
must have been meant one of distinguished youth and 
beauty, such as would be purchased for purposes of 
personal gratification. Female slaves of this description 
were seldom taken to the coast, where men and wojiien 
were usually sold at the same rates. The price however, 
both of male and female slaves at Sansanding, is higher 
than could reasonably have been expected. That of a man 
is stated at ^8. 6s. Sd.; whereas the price, generally 
speaking, on the coast was about £10. though it might 
perhaps be somewhat more in 1805. 
It may be observed, on a general view of the prices 
affixed to the European articles in Mr. Park's list that, 
presuming him to have sold his goods at those rates, his 
trade at Sansanding (supposing it to have been carried on 
by a private mercantile adventurer,) would have been far 
indeed from profitable. When the length, difficulty, and 
hazards of the journey from the coast, the expences of car- 
riage, and of presents to the chiefs, and other necessary 
charges are properly considered, it would not perhaps have 
been a saving speculation, if Mr. Park's selling prices had 
been doubled ; and probably they ought to have been much 
higher. The only article of return, which would in any 
degree have compensated for these risques and expenses, 
was ivory ; and if any large quantity of British goods 
taken to Sansanding, could have been invested in that 
article and the produce brought back to this country, the 
adventure might have yielded a considerable profit. But 
the attention of the merchant, in these cases, must be 
principally directed to gold as the general standard and 
measure of value ; and if the goods sold by Park are to 
