Page 23

27f 60

in the country, and constant intercourse with the natives, had made himself completely master of it. Next to the language, my great object was to collect information concerning the countries I intended to visit. On this occasion I was referred to certain traders called Slatees. These are free black merchants, of great consideration in this part of Africa, who come down from the interior countries, chiefly with enslaved Negroes for sale ; but I soon discovered that very little dependance could be placed on the accounts which they g a v e ; for they contradicted each other in the most important particulars, and all o f them seemed extremely unwilling that I should prosecute my journey. These circumstances increased my anxiety to ascertain the truth from my own personal observations. In researches of this kind, and in observing the manners and customs of the natives, in a country so little known to the nations of Europe, and furnished with so many striking and uncommon objects of nature, my time passed not unpleasantly ; and I began to flatter myself that I had escaped the fever, or seasoning, to which Europeans, on their first arrival in hot climates, are generally subject. But, on the 31st of July, I imprudently exposed myself to the night dew, in observing an eclipse of the moon, with a view to determine the longitude of the place : the next day I found myself attacked with a smart fever and delirium ; and such an illness followed, as confined me to the house during the greatest part of August. My recovery was very s low : but I embraced every short interval of convalescence to walk out, and make myself acquainted with the productions of the country. In one of those excursions, having rambled farther than usual, in a hot day, I brought on a return of my fever, and on the 10th of September I was again confined to my bed. The fever, however, was not so violent as before ; and in the course of three weeks I was able, when the weather would permit, to renew my botanical excursions ; and when it rained, I aroused myself with drawing plants, &c. in my chamber. The care and attention of Dr. Laidley contributed greatly to alleviate my sufferings ; his company and conversation beguiled the tedious hours during that gloomy season, when the rain falls in torrents; when suffocating heats oppress by day, and when the night is spent by the terrified traveller in listening to the croaking of frogs, (of which the numbers are beyond imagination,) the shrill cry of the jackall, and the deep howling of the hyaena; a dismal concert, interrupted only by the roar of such tremendous thunder as no persons can form a conception of but those who have heard it. The country itself being an immense level, and very generally covered with woods, presents a tiresome and gloomy uniformity to the e y e ; but although nature has denied to the inhabitants the beauties of romantic landscapes, she has bestowed on them, with a liberal hand, the more important blessings of fertility and abundance, A little attention to cultivation procures a sufficiency o f corn ; the fields afford a rich pasturage for cattle ; and the natives are plentifully supplied with excellent fish, both from the Gambia river and the Walli creek. The grains which are chiefly cultivated are Indian corn, (zea mays) ; two kinds of holcus spicatus, called by the natives soono and sanio; holcus nlger, and bolcus bicolor ; the former of which C


27f 60
To see the actual publication please follow the link above