5ê 
VOYAGE TO SENEGAL, 
gold-mines ; and it is not impossible for an European nation to 
possess them by the means of address or of force ; but the for- 
mer should be employed in preference. 
The Portuguese, in 169^), united to their forces 300 Bissaux 
Negroes, and undertook an expedition against the Balantes : they 
effected a landing without opposition, but the time was not pro- 
pitious, as they began their operations in the rainy season ; and 
at the time of the action their arras and an) munition got wet, 
and were rendered unserviceable. In this disaster, which they 
ought to have foreseen, they Mere attacked by ihe Balantes, and 
pursued with a fury peculiar to people who tight for every thing 
which they hold dear : they were, therefore, completely defeated 
and obliged precipitately to re-embark, leaving the field strewed 
with their Negroes and their own people ; whi]e all their ammu-» 
iiition and baggage fell into the hands of the enemy, who have 
ever since been far more insolent. 
Several Europeans who have since had the imprudence to land 
amongst these Negroes for commercial purposes, have been plun-^ 
dered and assassinated : it is, therefore, found to be rnore wise 
to trade w ith them without quitting one's boats, and to be cau- 
tious that the tide does not leave ibem aground ; for, on such 
occasions, which have often happened, these people without 
caring for the numbers which they may lose, attack the Euro- 
peans with singular fury, so that it is impossible to resist them. 
When such accidents as have just been alluded to are foreseen 
and provided against, the merchants inform the Negroes of their 
arrival by the discharge of a cannon, on which»they come down 
to the shore, and the king is almost always at their head. I'he 
interpreter then lands with specimens of the merchandise, and a 
bottle of brandy for the king, or the greatest personage present ; 
the canoe which conveys him ouglît to be well armed; and im-^ 
mediately after landing him, it should return to the vessel. These 
people always receive a master of languages with proper respect. 
Presents follow their mutual compliments, and they then agree 
about the slaves, ivory, he. He at length returns to the shore ; 
a signal is made for the canoe, and he re-embarks^ obeserving the 
same precautions as on landing. 
The slaves and other merchandise, are conveyed on board the 
European ships by the canoes of the country. Ah soon as they ap-^ 
proach, the whole crews of the vessels take up arms, the guns 
are primed, and the matches lighted ; the canoes come along side 
one at a time, and only a very few Negroes are suffered to board 
at the same tune : if they disobey these orders, they are lired on 
without hesitation ; otherwise they would not fail to possess 
themselves of the ship, and murder all the people it might con- 
tain. On such an occasipti, the Europeans cannot bç too alert i 
