[8] The bags in which the weed of the Cape de Verds is packed, are marked with the initials of the island of which it is the produce, and indicative of its quality which is at all times uniform.

[9] A regular trade with Sweden for moss has been long established.  A variety of mosses, different in their growth, but all producing the colour found in orchilla, are to be met with on the hills and rocky places, at a distance from the sea, in every country where the weed itself is indigenous.

CHAP.  III.

Arrival at Sierra Leone—­Mr. Lewis—­Black Washerwomen—­Visitors on board—­Capture of Leopards—­Mortality—­Funeral of Mr. Lewis—­Education of Native Children—­Regimental Mess—­Curious Trials at a Quarter Sessions—­Depredations of the Kroo-men—­Causes of Unhealthiness—­The Boollam Territory—­Lieut.  George Maclean’s Mission—­Election of a King—­Regent’s Speech—­Macaulay Wilson—­Ceremonies of the Coronation—­ Character of the Boollams—­Christian and Mahommedan Missionaries—­Aspect of the Country—­Cession of Boollam to Great Britain—­Extraordinary Trial for Crim.  Con.—­News of the Death of Mr. Canning

Saturday, September 1st, 1827.—­There was a moderate breeze from the S.W. and fine weather to-day.  At noon, lat. 9 deg. 20’ N. lon. 16 deg. 6’ W. Cape Sierra Leone S. 73 deg.  E. 173 miles.  Imagining that I was avoiding a lady who was intentionally advancing to address me on the quarter deck to-day, I stepped back and measured my length across the gunroom skylight, which, fortunately for me, had a piece of wood lengthways in the middle of it, to rest the sashes on, or I must have paid the officers a visit in their mess-room in a very unceremonious manner; I had however the good luck to escape with a slight bruise.

Sunday, 2d.—­At six in the morning we got soundings in 50 fathoms of water, and at eight in 29 fathoms.  Lat. 8 deg. 29’ N. lon. 13 deg. 56’ W. Cape Sierra Leone S. 81 deg.  E. distant thirty-six miles.  At three in the afternoon we saw the land, and at the same time a schooner, (which we afterwards learned was the Joseph and Mary from Sierra Leone bound to England.) Soon after this we saw the brig Ark coming out of the harbour of Sierra Leone, which returned into port on the 7th, and sailed again on the 14th of the same month.  This brig had the Aid-de-camp of the late Sir Neil Campbell on board, who died nearly three weeks before our arrival, and this officer was the bearer of despatches relating to Sir Neil Campbell’s death, &c.  Shortly before midnight we anchored off the town of Sierra Leone in 14-1/2 fathoms water, and found that our consort the Diadem transport had arrived only a few hours, although she left St. Jago three days before we started.  We had not any visitors from the shore that night, in consequence of the lateness of the hour at which we came to anchor; but we had a great number on the following day to make up for it.