was in great trouble, while the rest of the Whites were rejoicing. Some of Wiling's goods were taken from him, and he removed to Casse. I saw him afterwards, and he related to me how he had been used. Soon after this, the Prince came back with 900 men at his heels, and in a month's time 800 more joined him. He then fell on the chiefs in the Gallinas, and burnt many towns, and killed, and took many prisoners. He went to Crundell's, caught him and his people, and took all he had from him. By this time Lazell was dead; the man who was left in his place was obliged to go off in a ship to Cape Mount. The white people were all driven away; and not one got off without great loss. The Prince sent his brother to Mr.Wiling, and paid him. The war still rages: there are but five or six towns now standing (as I am told) in the Gallinas.

Written at Bagardo in Sherbro.

(Signed) "JOHN KIZELL."

List of White Slave Dealers in the Sherbro, as given by KIZELL, April 5, 1811.

Mr. Crundell, Mr. Mason, and two or three more whose names he does not know, in the Gallinas.

William Peel, a servant of Tucker (a Mulatto-man), in Ballom.

*Mr. Goss, in the Plantaines.

Mr. Gudgeon, in the Sherbro.
The above are all Englishmen.

*-93. N. Dolz (a Spanish Creole from the Havannah), at Sherbro

H.

Extract of a Letter from HENRY MEREDITH, Esq. dated Winnebah Fort, 26th February,

1811.

"THE Directors will doubtless hear with satisfaction, that we are endeavouring, by persuasion as well as by example, to induce the people here to cultivate new articles of produce. Some of the cotton seed, sent out by the Institution, has been given to two respectable men inland, with direction to sow it, and distribute part of it in their neighbourhood; and others have been invited to cultivate it.

"This is a great corn country, and we would be glad to see some method adopted that would stimulate the people to enlarge the cultivation of it. If we had the means of reducing it into flour, it would become perhaps a desirable article: our navy, army, and the labouring part of the community might be supplied at a moderate rate. In the plentiful season (from September to March), corn is usually purchased here for three ackies (equal to about ten shillings sterling) the chest; what we call the chest, is rather more t than half a puncheon, which being heaped will contain about eight bushels of corn.

"I am sorry to say that this country, as well as the Fantee, is at present (and is likely to continue) in a disturbed

state.

"The Asiantees are threatening to pay us another visit; and it is the current opinion, that the Fantees must be either subdued by the Asiantees, or means devised to restrain their ungovernable conduct, before the country is tranquillized, or before much improvement is effected. The Fantees are now to be considered a large body: they have brought under their

subjection, either by threats or favourable promises, a number of small estates; so that from Cape Coast to the extremity of the Agoona country may be put down as governed by the Fantees. To say that such and such places bear distinct names, is now merely to signify that they were formerly inhabited by a distinct people.

"When the King of Asiantee was obliged (by famine and disease) to withdraw his forces, the Fantees were much reduced as to numbers, and were in the greatest distress; their towns and villages were pillaged and destroyed. As they gradually recovered from the terror which the Asiantees spread throughout the country, they were willing to embrace any means whereby their condition would be amended, and war appeared to them as the only probable speedy method to effect it. War was accordingly declared against the inhabitants of Elmina and Accra, who were accused of betraying some Fantees, who had sought refuge among them. But their designs were principally directed against two wealthy men of those places, one of whom (Mr. Neizer, a man of colour,) was accused of encouraging the Asiantees to come to the water side, and supplying them with arms and ammunition, &c. The other (Mr. Sackey, a respectable black man at Accra,) was accused of making free with gold lodged in his care, and with some Fantees who were under his protection. However specious these accusations may appear to persons unacquainted with the parties, I am told, by good authority, that the latter person is innocent of the charge. The Fantees, in consequence of the wealth of these persons, were allured to try their disposition. They expected they would readily come forward with large sums to prevent their respective towns being destroyed, and their families being involved in the Neizer would not listen to the demands of the Fantees, but Sackey very imprudently advanced them, at different payments, no less a sum than 320 ounces 12 ackies, or 12837. currency, with which he expected the Accras would purchase a peace; but larger sums were demanded, and Sackey at length saw his error, and withheld his liberality.

war.

"The Fantees now divided their army into two bodies,

one of which was joined by a strong party from a country in the rear of the Anta country, called Wasa, and went against the Elminas: the other marched against the Accras, The Elminas were blockaded for nearly six months, during which various actions took place, wherein the Elminas fought with much bravery; but from the numbers opposed against them every battle weakened their force considerably; and if they had not been assisted by the Castle of Elmina and Fort Con+, raadsburge, they must ultimately have been subdued. The Fantees at length withdrew the main body of their army, keeping small parties on the look-out, ready to seize any of the Elminas who might go inland. They talk of renewing the attack, but it is supposed they will rather adopt a sort of pillaging warfare. The Fantees who were destined to go against Accra, made a bold push in March last, but were defeated: after which the greater part of them returned to their respective homes, leaving however a party on this side of Accra to interrupt any communication by land, even as it regarded the service of the African Company, unless they should be indulged with whatever they might demand; which is one proof of their being in arms to distress and plunder the weak and innocent, under the mask of endeavouring to recover: their former state by being revenged for injuries perhaps never received.

4

"To get acquainted with the true state of this country, I conceive it necessary to relate the preceding facts, from which we may conclude, that the country is likely to con tinue for some time in a disturbed state.

!

"The natives of Accra are the most civilized of any on the sea coast: a stranger perceives much difference between a Fantee and an Accra man.

"The native traders on the Gold Coast are, however, in general keen in making bargains, and conduct their business with ease, intelligence, and address, and are dexterous in taking an advantage where an opportunity is given them Those who gain a livelihood by fishing, are a laborious peo ple, and as they are frequently employed by us as canoe-i men and labourers, we bave the means of judging of them.

Their employment is profitable, for fish is readily purchased by the people both inland and on the coast. Their nets, which are large and heavily armed with lead, are thrown by. them with much dexterity. When these men are employed by us, as canoe-men or labourers, they perform their duty with cheerfulness, and, if encouraged, will go through a vast deal of labour; but they must be treated with exactness and punctuality. When they call for any customary allowance, or for payment, they do not like to be put off. They expect that their labour will meet with its immediate reward, otherwise they become negligent and inattentive to the interest of their employer. They are much addicted to thieving, and, indeed, are very expert in the practice of it, particularly as to such small articles as they can easily conceal.

"Those men who follow an agricultural life, and who inhabit the inland parts, are found more uniformly well be haved than the traders or the fishermen; and, making allow. ances for their uncivilized state, they may be considered well meaning set of men. They are free from that low cunning and artifice practised by those who gain a livelihood by a more frequent intercourse with the Whites. They possess no small share of honesty, sincerity, and benevolence, and are strangers to the corrupt and licentious conduct plainly seen among the inhabitants of the water side, parti. cularly among the Fantees, who bear the most unfavourable character of any of the natives of the Gold Coast. There is something in the character of the Fantees that causes them to be treated with respect, and yet hated by their neighbours. The cause of this dislike may be accounted for when we consider the nature of the Fantee laws, and the number of mal-practices which those laws encourage. The Braffoes, who have always exercised great authority among them, have shewn a bad example. It appears rather an inconsistency in the character of the Fantees, who are enemies to despotic power, that the Braffoes should have been allowed so much influence. This is said to have arisen from the fol lowing singular occurrence:-Whether the Fantees were originally connected with the Asiantees, or formed a separate