offspring at least, if not the parents, become entitled to all the privileges of the native class. The preceding remarks, concerning the several nations that inhabit the banks of the Gambia, are all that I recollect as necessary to be made in this place, at the outset of my journey. With regard to the Mandingoes, however, many particulars are yet to be related; some of which are necessarily interwoven into the narrative of my progress, and others will be given in a summary, at the end of my work ; together with all such observations as I have collected on the country and climate, which I could not with propriety insert in the regular detail of occurrence?. What remains of the present Chapter will therefore relate solely to the trade which the nations of Christendom have found means to establish with the natives of Africa, by the channel of the Gambia ; and the inland traffic which has arisen, in consequence of it, between the inhabitants of the Coast, and the nations of the interior countries. The earliest European establishment on this celebrated river was a factory of the Portugueze ; and to this must be ascribed the introduction of the numerous words of that language which are still in use among the Negroes. The Dutch, French, and English, afterwards successively possessed themselves of settlements on the Co a s t; but the trade of the Gambia became, and continued for many years, a sort of monopoly in the hands of the English. In the travels of Francis Moore, is preserved an account of the Royal Afrcian Company’s establishments in this river, in the year 1730; at which time James’s factory alone consisted of a governor, deputy governor, and two other principal officers; eight factors, thirteen writers, twenty inferior attendants and tradesmen; a company of soldiers, and thirty-two Negro servants, besides sloops, shallops, and boats, with their crews; and there were no less than eight subordinate factories in other parts of the river. The trade with Europe, by being afterwards laid open, was almost annihilated; the share which the subjects of England at this time hold in it,, supports not more than two or three annual ships; and I am informed that the gross value of British exports is under £ 20,000. The French and Danes still maintain a small share, and the Americans have lately sent a few vessels to the Gambia by way of experiment, i The commodities exported to the Gambia from Europe consist chiefly of fire-arms and ammunition, iron ware, spirituous liquors, tobacco, cotton caps, a small quantity of broad cloth, and a few articles of the manufacture of Manchester ; a small assortment of India goods, with some glass beads, amber, and other trifles: for which are taken in exchange slaves, gold-dust, ivory, bees-wax, and hides. Slaves are the chief article, but the whole number which at this time are annually exported from the Gambia by all nations, is supposed to be under one thousand. Most of these unfortunate victims are brought to the coast in periodical caravans; many of them from very remote inland countries; for the language'which they speak is not understood by the inhabitants of the maritime districts. In a subsequent part of my work I shall give the best information I have been able to collect concerning the manner in which they are ob- E
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