î26 
VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 
deavoured to establish itself at Arguin and Portendick, îiad tm 
object but to share or monopolize the gum trade, which the 
French, who were tirmly established in the Senegal, wished to 
concentrate amongst themselves. Indeed the gum trade with 
the Moors, was the most important of the operations which took 
place in those roads. The forests of gum trees are at no great 
distance from the shore; and the trade likewise consisted of gold, 
elephants*^ teeth, oxen, sheep, raw hides, and ostrich feathers ; 
besides which, it is asserted that ambergrease was formerly found 
in considerable quantities. But though 1 made and caused to be 
made the most vigorous researches, I could never obtain any. 
M. Pelletan, my successor, was more fortunate, nevertheless he 
mentions only a single instance in which he found it; and that 
vvas in a different part of tlie coast ; which proves at least that 
this substance is very scarce. 
The fisheries on this part of the coast are very abundant. Ail 
the capes, as far as the mouth of St John river, afford shelter to 
multitudes of tish, which find plenty of nutriment. Indeed tliese 
gulphs are like so many vast ponds completely stocked, with the 
only difference that they cannot be exhausted. The Europeans 
derive nutch advantage from these fisheries, which afford them a 
number of seals : the fish forms the chief subsistence of the gar- 
risons, and are exchanged with the Canary and Azores islands, 
as well as ^'^ith the Moors' on the coast of Guinea. The green 
species of turtle also delights in these roads, and the shell is much 
sought for in commerce. 
When the French directed tlieir commercial operations to the 
Senegal, they abandoned the hsherises. 
About 30 or 35 leagues from Portendick, and in 15o I5m. 
lat. you arrive at the mouth of the Senegal. To reach GoreCy 
either from Europe or from the Senegal, it is necessary to pass 
Cape Verd, which is the most western point of Africa ; its elon- 
gation into the sea, makes it a vast peninsula. The soil is good, 
and covered with fine trees : it is fit for all kinds of cultivation, 
and is fertilized by several rivulets ; all which render it very de- 
sirable for the establishment of the colony. Its trees being a I* 
ways green, have given rise lo its name, as it is distinguished by 
its appeaFance from all the other capes on the coast, which are 
dry and barren. The bay of Yof forms ^ considerable space 
between the point of Barbary and Cape Verd ; and the cin rents- 
set violently into this bay in a S. S. E. direction. 
The approach of a ship towards this cape is known by two- 
mountains, which are called the Breasts, from an idea that they^ 
resemble those organs in form. As soon as they are perce ived> 
precaution must be taken to avoid a rocky point, which jirojects^ 
about twp league* into the sea, and which causeij the: ships to 
