Travels in Western Africa, in the years 1818, 19, 20, and 21, from the river Gambia, through Woolli, Bondoo, Galam, Kasson, Kaarta, and Foolidoo, to the river NigerGray, William, Major
History
Travels in Western Africa, in the years 1818, 19, 20, and 21, from the river Gambia, through Woolli, Bondoo, Galam, Kasson, Kaarta, and Foolidoo, to the river Niger
Gray, William, Major
Sudan (Region) -- Description and travel
Turnbull Creek is likewise very shallow, having in no place more
than five feet water. It is possible that much benefit might result
from so shutting up the mouths of Newt and Crooked Creeks, and the
one adjoining the latter, as to prevent the high flood-tides in the
rainy season from entering them, as it would, if effectually done,
reclaim from inundation and its consequent bad effects, a large
space in the almost immediate vicinity of the town. But it remains to
decide whether the ground about them is lower than high-water mark,
in which case it would be impossible to remedy the present evil in
any other way than raising the level of the surface, a work that
would be attended with considerable expense and difficulty.
That this infant colony has answered, nay, exceeded the most sanguine
expectations of all concerned, is strongly proved by the very great
and rapid increase of its population, not only by the considerable
augmentation of the number of British merchants, but by an immense
influx of the inhabitants of Goree, who, not finding employment under
the French Government there, and being excluded from the trade of
the Gambia, except through the medium of Saint Mary’s, or a small
factory belonging to the French at Albreda (than which they are not
allowed to go higher up the river) are daily emigrating to Bathurst.
The troops, inhabitants, and merchants are abundantly supplied with
beef, mutton, poultry, fish, fruit, milk, butter, palm-wine, and
all the African vegetables by the natives of the surrounding towns,
who, feeling the advantage of such intimacy with the settlement,
flock to it in great numbers, and consume a large proportion of the
European articles imported into the colony.
Gold, ivory, bees-wax, and hides are brought thither in considerable
quantities by the natives, traders, and the inhabitants of Goree
who have settled there, and are annually shipped for England by the
British merchants; fine timber of the mahogany kind has been found on
the banks of, and islands in the river, and has likewise been sent to
the home market, where, I believe, it has met with some encouragement.
ARTICLE II.—See PAGE 59.
PRESENTS TO THE KING OF KATOBA, APRIL 18th, 1818.
One fine gilt dirk.
A stone of large amber.
Ten bars of glass beads.
Two bottles of rum.
One piece of blue baft.
One do. of white muslin.
Twenty bars of amber.
Twenty do. of coral.
Eighteen bars of tobacco.
Sixteen do. of red cloth.
ARTICLE III.—See PAGE 87.
PRESENTS MADE TO THE KING OF WOOLLI AND HIS CHIEFS.
TO THE KING.
One single gun.
One pound, No. 1, amber.
Forty dollars.
A piece of white baft.
A ditto of blue ditto.
Twelve stones, No. 1, coral.
TO HIS SON.
A common gun.
Five stones, No. 2, amber.
Five do. No. 2, coral.
TO THE CHIEFS.
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