in the character given of these people, it appears,
that though they are naturally inclined to be kind
to strangers, with whom they are fond of
trading, yet the frequent injuries done
them by Europeans, have occasioned their being suspicious
and shy. The same cause has been the occasion
of the ill treatment they have sometimes given to
innocent strangers, who have attempted to trade with
them. As the Europeans have no settlement on
this part of Guinea, the trade is carried on by signals
from the ships, on the appearance of which the natives
usually come on board in their canoes, bringing their
gold-dust, ivory, &c. which has given opportunity
to some villainous Europeans to carry them off with
their effects, or retain them on board till a ransom
is paid. It is noted by some, that since the European
voyagers have carried away several of these people,
their mistrust is so great, that it is very difficult
to prevail on them to come on board. William Smith
remarks,[B] “As we past along this coast, we
very often lay before a town, and fired a gun for
the natives to come off, but no soul came near us;
at length we learnt by some ships that were trading
down the coast, that the natives came seldom on board
an English ship, for fear of being detained or carried
off; yet last some ventured on board, but if those
chanced to spy any arms, they would all immediately
take to their canoes, and make the best of their way
home. They had then in their possession one Benjamin
Cross the mate of an English vessel, who was detained
by them to make reprisals for some of their men, who
had formerly been carried away by some English vessel.”
In the Collection we are told,[C]_This villainous
custom is too often practised, chiefly by the Bristol
and Liverpool ships, and is a great detriment to the
slave trade on the windward coast. John Snock,
mentioned in Bosman_[D] when on that coast, wrote,
“We cast anchor, but not one Negro coming on
board, I went on shore, and after having staid a while
on the strand, some Negroes came to me; and being
desirous to be informed why they did not come on board,
I was answered that about two months before, the English
had been there with two large vessels, and had ravaged
the country, destroyed all their canoes, plundered
their houses, and carried off some of their people,
upon which the remainder fled to the inland country,
where most of them were that time; so that there being
not much to be done by us, we were obliged to return
on board.[E] When I enquired after their wars with
other countries, they told me they were not often
troubled with them; but if any difference happened,
they chose rather to end the dispute amicably, than
to come to arms."[F] He found the inhabitants civil
and good-natured. Speaking of the King of Rio
Seftre lower down the coast, he says, “He
was a very agreeable, obliging man, and that all his
subjects are civil, as well as very laborious in agriculture,