_I shall say nothing with relation to the short Account I have given of the manner how the_ Negroes _become Slaves, and of the Management of them when on Shipboard, it being designed at first only for a Friend’s Satisfaction, who had objected against the lawfulness of that Trade_. _As I love Freedom my self, so I readily leave the Reader to judge and believe as he pleases, concerning what is here related: My principal motive for publishing these Sheets, being the Persuasion of some Friends, who had perused them in Manuscript, and thought they might prove acceptable to the Publick._ INTRODUCTION. That Part of _Africa_ commonly called _Guinea_, is of a large Extent, beginning at _Cape Verd_, in 14 Degrees 30 Minutes North Latitude, and extending to the South and East, as far as the Coast of _Angola_; the River _Congo_, in 6 Degrees South Latitude, being the farthest place where the _English_ carry on their Trade. In this Country of _Guinea_, the _English_ have trafficked a great many Years: But especially, since the Conclusion of the last _French_ War, it has been so improved, that whereas in the Year 1712, there went only 33 Ships from _England_ to that Coast, in 1726, it was proved before the _Commissioners of Trade_, that there had been there the Year before above 200 Sail, to the great increase of Navigation, and the advantage of our Plantations in _America_. Such as are unacquainted with this Country, may reasonably suppose we should have gained by this time a perfect account of the Inland-Parts; yet perhaps we know the least of it of any Country the _English_ have so long traded to, for reasons I shall give hereafter. But as I design only to inform the Reader, (for his better understanding the following Sheets) in a cursory manner, of those parts of the Coast of _Guinea_, that I have been personally acquainted with: So, as I go along, I shall intermix my Reasons with the Account. I have traded along this Coast for near 700 Leagues, from a River called _Sherberow_, in the Latitude of 7 Degrees 30 Minutes North, to _Cape Lopez Gonsalvez_, in 1 Degree South, near the Coast of _Angola_: Now in so large an Extent, we meet with very different People and Trade. The first part I shall mention, is about 250 Leagues in length, from the above-mentioned River of _Sherberow_, round _Cape Palmas_, to the River _Ancober_ near _Axim_. This is commonly called the _Windward Coast_, on which there is no Settlement or Factory of any _European_ Nation; but the Trade is carried on in this manner. As soon as the Natives perceive a Ship on their Coast, they make a smoke on the Sea-Shore, as a Signal for the Ship to come to an Anchor, that they may come and trade with the People on board. As soon as we are at an Anchor, they come to us in small Boats, called _Cannoes_, being made of a single Tree, and bring their Commodities with them.