CHAPTER III. 
EARLY DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH. 
First Voyages to the Senegal and Gambia. — Plans Jbr pene- 
trating to Tombuctoo. — Thompson. — Jobson. — Vermuyden. 
— Stibbs. — Job-Ben- Solomon. — Moore. 
The attempts of the English to form establish- 
ments on the central rivers of Africa were com- 
menced at an early period. In 1588, Queen Eli- 
zabeth granted a patent to certain rich merchants 
of Exeter, to carry on the trade of the Senegal and 
Gambia. Accordingly, in 1591, a voyage thither 
was undertaken by Richard Rainolds and Thomas 
Dassel, v who visited successively these two rivers. 
The Portuguese appear by that time to have been 
entirely driven from the Senegal, as our navigators 
heard only of one individual of that nation residing 
upon its banks. But, on the Gambia, they were 
established in great numbers, and appeared to view 
the arrival of the English with very peculiar jea- 
lousy. In conjunction with one of their country- 
* Hackluyt, III. 2. (London, 1810.) 
4* 
