and the pursuits of trade,” Marchais says,[G] “That though the country is very populous, yet none of the natives (except criminals) are sold for slaves.” Vaillant never heard of any settlement being made by the Europeans on this part of Guinea; and Smith remarks,[H] “That these coasts, which are divided into several little kingdoms, and have seldom any wars, is the reason the slave trade is not so good here as on the Gold and Slave Coast, where the Europeans have several forts and factories.”  A plain evidence this, that it is the intercourse with the Europeans, and their settlements on the coast, which gives life to the slave trade.

[Footnote A:  Collection, vol. 2, page 560.]

[Footnote B:  W. Smith, page 111.]

[Footnote C:  Astley’s collection, vol. 2, page 475.]

[Footnote D:  W. Bosman’s description of Guinea, page 440.]

[Footnote E:  W. Bosman’s description of Guinea, page 429.]

[Footnote F:  Ibid, 441.]

[Footnote G:  Astley’s collection, Vol. 2, page 565.]

[Footnote H:  Smith’s voyage to Guinea, page 112.]

Next adjoining to the Ivory Coast, are those called the Gold Coast, and the Slave Coast; authors are not agreed about their bounds, but their extent together along the coast may be about five hundred miles.  And as the policy, produce, and oeconomy of these two kingdoms of Guinea are much the same, I shall describe them together.

Here the Europeans have the greatest number of forts and factories, from whence, by means of the Negro sailors, a trade is carried on above seven hundred miles back in the inland country; whereby great numbers of slaves are procured, as well by means of the wars which arise amongst the Negroes, or are fomented by the Europeans, as those brought from the back country.  Here we find the natives more reconciled to the European manners and trade; but, at the same time, much more inured to war, and ready to assist the European traders in procuring loadings for the great number of vessels which come yearly on those coasts for slaves.  This part of Guinea is agreed by historians to be, in general, extraordinary fruitful and agreeable; producing (according to the difference of the soil) vast quantities of rice and other grain; plenty of fruit and roots; palm wine and oil, and fish in great abundance, with much tame and wild cattle.  Bosman, principal factor for the Dutch at D’Elmina, speaking of the country of Axim, which is situate towards the beginning of the Gold Coast, says,[A] “The Negro inhabitants are generally very rich, driving a great trade with the Europeans for gold.  That they are industriously employed either in trade, fishing, or agriculture; but chiefly in the culture of rice, which grows here in an incredible abundance, and is transported hence all over the Gold Coast.  The inhabitants, in lieu, returning full fraught with millet, jamms, potatoes,