[29] The following extract from the letter-book of the late African Company, throws considerable light upon this subject: 

  ’Cape Coast Castle, 30th January, 1783.

’Captain Lawson, who has been lately at the islands of Princes and St. Thomas, says that the Governor, who was inimical to the English, is returned to Portugal; he hired to the Spaniards at Fernando Po, one hundred soldiers to make reprisals on the English, in consequence of Captain Ragan having endeavoured to cut out of the island a Spanish packet, which was there in March and April last.  Captain West of his Majesty’s ship Champion, cruized off Fernando Po, two days in July last, in order to fall in with a frigate of thirty guns, and a sloop of fourteen, but, being both in the harbour, they would not come out.  These two vessels remained in St. Thomas’s in October last, where they had carried 200 troops, the only remains of 3000 that had originally been sent to Fernando Po, where the Spaniards had made a settlement, and landed a great quantity of brass cannon, and all kinds of military stores; but the natives were so disgusted with the Spanish Government, that they poisoned the water, which caused a great mortality and obliged the survivors to go away.  However, previous to their departure,
 they dismounted and buried the cannon and all the stores; and, after
they were gone, the natives demolished all the fortification, and threw the stones into the sea.  A few Portuguese natives of St. Thomas’s who for misdemeanors had been sold to the Spaniards by the Portuguese Government, are now remaining in the island ready to shew where the cannon and stores are buried; and, from what Captain Lawson has heard, the natives seem to wish that the English would come and settle among them, promising to render us every assistance in their power in erecting a settlement there.  The importance of the trade carried on to Leeward having already been represented to you, I shall not add on the subject.’

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[30] The Diadem arrived in the bay a few hours before us.

CHAP.  IX.

Native Simplicity—­Resources of the Blind—­Royal Village—­Gathering of Natives—­Native Priests—­Royal Feast—­Inhospitable Treatment—­ Uncomfortable Quarters—­Vocabulary of the Native Language—­Beauty of the Female Character—­Women of Fernando Po—­Anecdotes—­Aspect of the Country—­Productions—­Preparations for the Settlement—­Discovery of a Theft—­Mimic War Customs—­Native Chiefs—­Female on Board—­Monkey for Dinner—­Flogging a Prisoner—­Accident to a Sailor—­A Voyage of Survey round the Island—­River named after the Author—­Geographical and Meteorological Observations—­Insubordination—­A Man Overboard—­Deserter taken—­Death of the Interpreter—­Method of Fishing—­Visitors from St. Thomas—­Ceremony of taking Possession of Fernando Po—­Interview with a Native Chief—­Celebration Dinner—­Indirect Roguery—­Chief and his Wife—­Hospital near Point William—­The Guana—­Mistake at Sea—­ Suggestions on the Slave-Trade—­Fishing Stakes—­Schooner on a Mud-flat