resist the temptation of making a few dollars, by: taking advantage
of the pressure of our circumstances,-and obligëd us to pay more
for the short passage to the Gambia, (providing for ourselves) than
we gave for the much longer one from Madeira to Bona Vista:
unable to navigate his vessel himself, he had employed a Frenchman,
and as neither could speak more than a few words of the
other’s language, mistakes constantly occurred. Of this, the result
in one instance, was, that instead of making Porta Praya in
St. Jago, where we were to touch for a few hours, we made
another point, and went completely round the island, thereby
prolonging our voyage three days.
We were not sorry to see St. Jago, which is far more interesting
than Bona Vista. The town and forts are situated on the
eminences, and a beautiful grove of cocoa-nut trees borders the
shore, to the right of the bay. We anchored early in the
morning, and Mr. Bowdich immediately went ashore, and
despatched emissaries in various directions, for plants and shells,
leaving me in the schooner to examine the most perishable, as he
sent them on board to me, and to preserve the best. I was also
to hail every boat I saw, in the hope of procuring fish, while he
went as far as he could with his bag and hammer, to examine and
collect specimens'of the rocksh. We were tolerably successful, as
this poor creature, for she did not revolt my feelings by the usual conceit of her race ;
on the contrary, she was unassuming, and exceedingly grateful for the notice I took
of her and her little forlom hoy,-for whose welfare she would be willing to sacrifice
every hope and enjoyment, and over whose education and morals she watches with
the most earnest solicitude. I was very anxious she should have been attached to
one of thé schools in Africa, but she was too valuable for her master to part With,
and she is now losing the best years-of her; life, in a situation unworthy of her
abilities or good intentions.
h These specimens having been mingled with others, I have been: unable to separate
them, especially, as I did not see them till I was deprived of assistance. An
American vessel, trading at St. Jago, returned home half laden with the clay in which
the gold is found, by way of experiment ; it yielded so much metal, that the vessel
the results of this one day’s work will shew to those who peruse
the appendix, particularly, as there was but one fishing-boat in
the place, which did not make its appearance till five in the
afternoon. We managed to depart before sunset, notwithstanding
the efforts of the Commandant, who was in his usual state of
drunkenness, and whose ill humour, we were told, always increased
with ,the quantity of wine he swallowed. He made the
owner of the vessel pay nineteen dollars for port dues, although
he did not trade; but merely took in a few planks, and two or
three bolts of canvass. After a voyage of twelve days, we reached
the River Gambia at night-fall, and proceeding up it, came to
anchor at too late an hour to disembark. I
On the following morning, Mr. Bowdich presented his letters
to the'Commandant, (Captain Findlay) who immediately received
us all at the Government-House, with I the most hospitable
kindness. We intended to remain at Bathurst a month, and then
proceed to Sierra Leone; but as the River Gambia is so little
known to science, Mr. Bowdich lost no time in commencing its
survey, and examining its natural productions. When- not
otherwise employed, he himself made excursions, and in the
course of three weeks, the botany of Banjole (the island on which
Bathurst stands) was nearly completed, and after Mr. Bowdich’s
visit to Cape St, Marys, many plants were added from the main
land, j The usual means were resorted to, of purchasing the birds,
shells, <fc., brought us by the natives, and every facility was
afforded by ■ our countrymen, particularly by the Commandant,
whose anxiety for the survey seemed to equal Mr. Bowdich’s.
The government-boats, and. as many, men as were required, were
returned for a full, cargo, accompanied by two others; but, when ,the Portuguese
Government were, by this proceeding, made sensible of their riches, they forbade any;
further exportation, although, it would seem, they have, never made any use of the
clay for themselves.