WEST INDIES. 
^53* 
CHAP. II.] 
into the Western ocean in nearly 16 degrees, and 
the river Gambia in 13 and a half degrees north la¬ 
titude. Both these rivers are navigable many hun¬ 
dred miles up the country. The negroes obtained 
from this part of Africa are known to the West 
Indian planters by the general name of Man dingoes. 
From cape Roxo (or Rouge) to cape Appollonia, 
the European settlements, except a small English 
factory in the river Sierra Leone, are chiefly those 
of the Portuguese.—The negroes obtained through 
their means as well as from the English factory are 
likewise called Mandingoes—I believe improperly; 
as many different languages are spoken on the coast 
between Senegal and Appollonia. This part of 
Africa is commonly called the Windward coast. 
The Gold coast extends from cape Appollonia 
to the river Volta, comprehending a line of 100 
leagues. The maritime country is divided into a 
number of petty states or principalities, seemingly 
independent of, and often at war with, each other; 
the chief of which are Axim, Ante, Adorn, Jabi, 
Commani, Fetu, Sabou, Fantyn (a rich and power¬ 
ful people), Acron, and Agonna; some of which 
are said to maintain a republican, or more proper¬ 
ly an aristocratical, form of government. Of the 
inland country we know but little more than that 
it consists of three extensive kingdoms, called As- 
siantee (or Shantee), Akim, and Aquambou; each 
of which supplies the maritime states with great 
numbers of slaves, which they sell to the Europe- 
