25 2 HISTORY OF THE [took m 
with* which the trade is at present carried on, and 
the state of it for some years past, some particu¬ 
lars may be necessary. My account will be brief; 
there being many descriptions of Guinea extant; 
and an abridgment and summary of the best histo¬ 
ries (collated and arranged with great judgment and 
accuracy) are given to the public in Astley’s collec¬ 
tion of voyages $ wherein the reader will find 
much curious and useful information.* 
That part then of the African coast on the At¬ 
lantic ocean, with which the people of Europe 
have an intercourse, extends from cape Blanco, 
in 21 degrees north latitude, to a Portuguese 
settlement called Loango St. Paul's , in the king¬ 
dom of Angola, latitude 9 degrees south, com¬ 
prehending a line of coast of upwards of 1,300 
English leagues, and consisting of various countries, 
inhabited by a great number of savage nations, 
differing widely from each other, in government, 
language, manners, and superstitions. 
The first of these countries, in which the British 
have an establishment, is the province of Sene- 
gambia; including the river Senegal, which opens 
* In the year 1763, Senegal and its dependencies were vested in the 
African company; but in 1765 the same became vested in the crown, 
and the trade was laid open. Thus the whole African trade is free ta 
all his majesty’s subjects; but that part of it which is carried on be¬ 
tween port Sallee and cape Rouge is under the direction of govern¬ 
ment. From cape Rouge to the cape of Good Hope, the English 
forts are under the direction of a committee of the company. 
