V 
APPEARAMCE OF SIERRA LEONE. IQ 
ning : the island is high in some places, on Vvhich the clouds seem 
to rest. The point of Cape Sierra Leone was cloathed by nume- 
rous large trees. 1 do not know that I ever saw so majestic 
and tremendous an appearance as w as formed by mountain tower- 
ing over mountain, whic'i, added to the gloomioess of the night, 
increased its horrors. By the number of lights that appeared, 
we were certain we were near some large town. The 
captain stood on till a boat came frcsî) the shore, by the people 
of w horn we were informed of the d> ath of the governor. On 
the sides of the hills there are eiephants, tigers, tiger cats, &c. 
Mitb a very large species of monkey called Chimpanzee, which is 
near six feet high when full grown. He is very mischievous ; 
when young, however, he is most affectionate to men ; and cries 
like a child when he misses his protector. A gentleman here 
gives a woman 10s. 6d. per week to suckle one, in order to send 
it home. There is also an insect which is at least equally alarm- 
ing, a sort of black ant. When they enter a house, the inhabi- 
tants are obliged to leave it immediately, otherwise they would 
devour them as they do every thing else they meet with; ser- 
pents, rats/ Sec. &c. 
November 23d. We came to an anchor off Free-town, and 
at half past seven o'clock a boat came off and informed us this 
was the principal town. It was quite dark. On our landing we 
found that not only the governor was dead, but also a captain of 
llie African corps, who was to have been tried by a court 
martial for some serious offence, They were very sickly, and in 
great distress both for medicines and food. The town is in a 
most romantic situation. At the back of it the mountains are 
cloathed with wood. Near it is another town, commonly called 
Dalia Mooda; it is situated on the side of a hill, covered with 
verdure. The natives are black, but there is a great difference 
betwixt their dress and that of the people of Goree; here the 
fashion of the women's cioaths somewhat resembles the costume 
of a Welsh girl, and they are all exceedingly clean and neat. 
In the morning tuo canoes came alongside; though only 
the breadth of a man, there were three persons in each of them 
kneeling and sittip.g; two paddled, whêle the third baled the 
water out. The canoes appeared to be made of the bark of 
trees; and were exccedmgly light. This day some women came 
on board to barter oranges, lemons, &c. they weie extremely 
pleased to see Williams, the gun-room black cook, whom they 
recollected by the name of Harris. There are some crown-birds 
here, but they are very rare to be met with. Ten dollars is the 
price asked for a bow and arrows, with the quiver complete. 
The governor a pale invalid, came on board this morning, and 
politely invited us on shore ; he at the same time lamented the 
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