SKETCH OF GABOON. 
425 
the greatest travellers in the interior, living on board the vessel 
during her loading, I conversed with them constantly, as they 
spoke good English ; and I went on shore twice, passing a night 
the latter time, to Naango or George's Town, two miles up the 
romantic creek of Abaaga, about forty-five miles from the mouth 
of the river. I found the Governor (so his title was interpreted) a 
very hospitable and intelligent native, and speaking good English. 
He had travelled much in the interior, when young, was still very 
inquisitive for particulars, and produced me a troop of slaves for 
questioning, which furnished a native of almost every country I 
could hear of. I saw two young negroes, the sons of native rulers, 
who spoke and wrote French fluently. The one had been sent to 
that country for education, and the other in his voyage to Eng- 
land for the same purpose, was taken and carried to France, and 
generously educated and maintained by the owner of the privateer.^' 
Each remained in France upwards of eight years before they were 
sent back to Gaboon, and professed to be very anxious to return to 
it, depicting the native habits not only as uncongenial, but disgust- 
ing to them. The Congo hypothesis, the primary stimulus to my 
enquiries, making geographical particulars the most desirable, I will 
defer those on other subjects, and submit the compilation of seven 
weeks investigation and inquiry under the above advantageous cir- 
cumstances. 
The native name of the country of Gaboon, is Empoongwa ; it 
dos not extend above the branching of the river, or more than 
forty miles in length ; and is about thirty in breadth, including the 
river, which they call Aroongo. We will pursue the north-eastern 
arm first. There is a sand-bank in the middle of the entrance, 
* I am sorry to say those whom their parents have been persuaided to entrust to Enghsh 
vessels for the same purpose, have invariably been sold as slaves, in violation of every 
assurance ; an infamy of which the French have never been guilty in a single instance. 
3 I 
