successor, tried to secure the throne out of his turn, but being:
defeated, was obliged to throw himself iipon the kindness of the'
Alcade at Bakkow, both for safety and maintenance.
The Run trees (corypha minor ?) at Bakkow are numerous, and
their tall,* straight trunks, without branches, form a beautiful
contrast to the monkey-bread trees in their immediate; vicinity.
One of the latter had fallen down, and the cattle browziftg on the
plain had found nooks in its rugged trunk, which effectually
sheltered them from sun and wind. Nothing conveys so complete
an idea of the vast extent, the primitiveness, the solemn grandeur
of African scenery, as these stupendous masses of wood; they seem
to have been created to shade some race of giants now swept from
the face of the earth, and to be left as monuments of the might
of those who are passed away. There are some very fine coral
trees, with their clusters of brilliant scarlet blossoms, and the:
whole vegetation is very luxuriant, but not owing much to
cultivation".
| A Committee having been formed by Quakers, for the promotion of civilization in-
Africa, some of the members arrived at Bathurst -while I was there. The plan wasf
to induce a wish for education and improvement, by first trying ty>, make the Africans
sensible of the benefits that would accrue to them from a knowledge of agriculture/
manufactures, reading, writing, and arithmeticto establish; in the commencement,’ a
habit of attention, decency, and cleanliness; particularly to avoid presents of spiritous"
liquors, and not to insist upon any change of religion. They had intended formifig
a Colony at Bakkow, and certainly, if any thing of the kind can succeed in Africa^
their patient perseverance, their mild and quiet doctrines, their liberal support, their
exemplary lives, serving as models, and their hearty zeal in the cau&e, muSthave ensured-
their labours a favourable result. An elderly lady, and'a young one, accompanied
by two gentlemen, and two educated blacks, had both cpme out, though possessing
ample means and comforts at home, to see what could be done by future visitors or
settlers. Nothing could exceed their actiioty; the younger lady undertook to open
a school, and I was astonished at her patience and firm perseverance. Her excellent
temper, and her zeal, made her even happy under privations, and a task, of
all others the most irksome, and which would have ruined the health and enjoyment
We returned, to Bathurst by the beach, and taking advantage
of the low tide, were able to ride across the second creek, (the
water being only up to our horse’s knees) and thereby lessened the
difficulties of the path. To those who ride on horseback, the
neighbourhood of Bathurst is very easy of access. Frequent
shooting parties are made by the gentlemen there, who generally
find deer, hares, partridges, pigeons, and guinea-fowls for their
sport, and certainly, if it were more healthy, sufficient amusement
might be found to render the place agreeable; at low tide the
beach is firm enough to ride on, and has even served for a race
course.
The little specimens of Arabic literature in the Appendix, were
supplied me by Dongo Kary, a native of Senegal, and a learned
Marrabout: the originals’1 prove, that the western dialect approaches,
nearer to the learned Arabic,, than the eastern; the
character is somewhat different, but not sufficiently so to cause
any great difficulty: we understood our Marrabout quite well, and
his pronunciation always accorded with the spelling of the word ;
his accent was not difficult to acquire, and his Ohrain was much
less guttural than that of the Orientalists.
My readers will easily perceive, from the foregoing little sketch,
the difference of customs, the striking inferiority of the inhabitants
of this part of Africa, to those north and east of the
leeward coast. Mr. Bowdich’s “ Mission to Ashantee” is a detail
of most women. I am indeed grieved to state, that although the ladies have returned
in safety, the gentlemen have both become victims to the fever, but I earnestly trust,
that the Committee will not even now be discouraged, but will make a second trial in
a situation which affords a better chance for life.
* 1 have been deterred from publishing these originals, from the necessity of having
a new type, ah expense I could by no means afford, and which would be scarcely
worthwhile for the trifles I have collected; I have, however, drawn the different
characters in lithography, and can supply any one who wishes for them, with a
large collection of phrases.