Remarks on the Country Extending from Cape Palmas to the River Congo: Including Observations on the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants : with an Appendix Containing an Account of the European Trade with the West Coast of Africa, Volume 1

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G. and W.B. Whittaker, 1823 - Africa, West - 265 pages

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Page 14 - Wilt thou upon the high and giddy mast Seal up the ship-boy's eyes, and rock his brains In cradle of the rude imperious surge ; And in the visitation of the winds, Who take the ruffian billows by the top, Curling their monstrous heads, and hanging them With deafning clamours in the slippery clouds, That, with the hurly, death itself awakes ? Canst thou, O partial sleep!
Page 144 - Many of the natives write English; an art first acquired by some of the traders' sons, who had visited England, and which they have had the sagacity to retain up to the present period. They have established schools and schoolmasters, for the purpose of instructing in this art the youths belonging to families of...
Page 130 - Evening is the period chosen for the time of departure, when they proceed in a body, accompanied by the noise of drums, horns, and gongs. At the expiration of the sixth day, they generally return, bringing with them 1,500 or 2,000 slaves, who are sold to Europeans the evening after their arrival, and taken on board the ships.
Page 38 - Fantees are black as jet, muscular, and well-formed, and those that are engaged in fishing, and employed as canoe-men, can endure much bodily fatigue, although they often make excuses to abridge their labour, however well they may be paid for it ; for they are anxious to have the labour of the day concluded by noon, in order that they may wash, and dress, and gossip with their neighbours the remainder of the day. " Their national mark is three small perpendicular incisions on each temple, and on...
Page 243 - Warre, are moderate. The medium of exchange is salt; but accounts are kept in pawns, the value of one of which is equal to a bar in Bonny, averaging from two to three shillings sterling each. In trading for oil and ivory, it will be unnecessary to establish a factory at Gatto, as was the practice of slave ships, unless a competitor has fixed one in that town. MERCHANDISE SUITABLE TO BARTER FOR PALMOIL AND IVORY, AT BONNY.
Page 14 - Who take the ruffian billows by the top, Curling their monstrous heads, and hanging them With deaf'ning clamours in the slippery clouds, That, with the hurly, death itself awakes ? Canst thou, O partial sleep! give thy repose To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude; And, in the calmest and most stillest night, With all appliances and means to boot, Deny it to a king ? Then, happy low, lie down ! Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
Page 247 - ... besides bar-wood. The oil is purchased by the tub (cruee, or crew) of 9J gallons. The price varies according to the demand.* Salt being always in demand, vessels from England may take of that article the amount of their register tonnage, beside a well-assorted cargo of other goods. The currency of the country is copper rods. Many of the natives here write English ; an art first acquired by some of the traders...
Page 230 - West, and lays the ship's head off shore ; by eleven am the sea breeze will have acquired its strength and true direction, at which time, also, the vessel will have made a good offing. Tack and stand in-shore, anchoring when in 8 fathoms of water, where it will be proper to wait for the land wind. By adopting this method, a vessel is placed in the best possible situation for taking early advantage of the breeze from the shore ; whereas if she were kept under...
Page 98 - D impaled while I was at Lagos, but of course I did not witness the ceremony. I passed by where her lifeless body still remained on the stake a few days afterwards. Male dogs are banished to the towns opposite to Lagos, for if any are caught there, they are immediately strangled, split, and trimmed like sheep, and hung up at some great man's door, where rows of the putrid carcasses of their canine...
Page 158 - The superior healthiness of the castle itself may be accounted for, by its southern rampart wall being built on a ledge of rocks which project a little way into the sea, and against which rocks the sea beats with great violence, thereby creating at all times a cool and refreshing current of air within the castle. The...

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