strong hopes, that I should be very safe amongst them, and meet with the success I desired, in my inquiries after the curiosities of the country.’ _William Bosman_, a principal Factor for the _Dutch_, who resided sixteen years in _Guinea_, speaking of the natives of that part where he then was, says, ‘They are generally a good sort of people, honest in their dealings;’ others he describes as ‘being generally friendly to strangers, of a mild conversation, affable, and easy to be overcome with reason.’ He adds, ‘That some Negroes, who have had an agreeable education, have manifested a brightness of understanding equal to any of us.’ Speaking of the fruitfulness of the country, he says, ‘It was very populous, plentifully provided with corn, potatoes and fruit, which grew close to each other; in some places a foot-path is the only ground that is not covered with them; the Negroes leaving no place, which is thought fertile, uncultivated; and immediately after they have reaped, they are sure to sow again.’ Other parts he describes, as ‘being full of towns and villages; the soil very rich, and so well cultivated, as to look like an entire garden, abounding in rice, corn, oxen, and poultry, and the inhabitants laborious.’ _William Smith_, who was sent by the _African_ Company to visit their settlements on the coast of _Guinea_, in the year 1726, gives much the same account of the country of _Delmina_ and _Cape Corse_, &c. for beauty and goodness, and adds, ‘The more you come downward towards that part, called _Slave-Coast_, the more delightful and rich the soil appears.’ Speaking of their disposition, he says, ‘They were a civil, good-natured people, industrious to the last degree. It is easy to perceive what happy memories they are blessed with, and how great progress they would make in the sciences, in case their genius was cultivated with study.’ He adds, from the information he received of one of the Factors, who had resided ten years in that country, ‘That the discerning natives account it their greatest unhappiness, that they were ever visited by the _Europeans_.—That the _Christians_ introduced the traffick of Slaves; and that before our coming they lived in peace.’