Some Historical Account of Guinea, Its Situation, Produce, and the General Disposition of Its Inhabitants

SOME HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF GUINEA, ITS SITUATION, PRODUCE, and the general DISPOSITION of its INHABITANTS. WITH An Inquiry into the RISE and PROGRESS OF THE SLAVE TRADE, Its NATURE, and lamentable EFFECTS. ALSO A REPUBLICATION of the Sentiments of several Authors of Note on this interesting Subject: Particularly an Extract of a Treatise written by GRANVILLE SHARPE.

Reading edition

By ANTHONY BENEZET

ACTS xvii. 24, 26. GOD, that made the world hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the—bounds of their habitation.

PHILADELPHIA: Printed MDCCLXXI.

LONDON: Re-printed MDCCLXXII.

Introduction.

CHAPTER I.A GENERAL account of Guinea; particularly those parts on the rivers Senegal and Gambia.

CHAP. II.Account of the Ivory-Coast, the Gold-Coast and the Slave-Coast.

CHAP. III.Of the kingdoms of Benin, Kongo and Angola.

CHAP. IV.Guinea, first discovered and subdued by the Arabians. The Portuguese make descents on the coast, and carry off the natives. Oppression of the Indians: De la Casa pleads their cause.

CHAP. V.The English's first trade to the coast of Guinea: Violently carry off some of the Negros.

CHAP. VI.Slavery more tolerable under Pagans and Turks than in the colonies. As christianity prevailed, ancient slavery declined.

CHAP. VII.Montesquieu's sentiments of slavery. Morgan Godwyn's advocacy on behalf of Negroes and Indians, &c.

CHAP. VIII.Grievous treatment of the Negroes in the colonies, &c.

CHAP. IX.Desire of gain the true motive of the Slave trade. Misrepresentation of the state of the Negroes in Guinea.

CHAP. X.State of the Government in Guinea, &c.

CHAP. XI.Accounts of the cruel methods used in carrying on of the Slave trade, &c.

CHAP. XII.Extracts of several voyages to the coast of Guinea, &c.

CHAP. XIII.Numbers of Negroes, yearly brought from Guinea, by the English, &c.

CHAP. XIV.Observations on the situation and disposition of the Negroes in the northern colonies, &c.

CHAP. XV.Europeans capable of bearing reasonable labour in the West Indies, &c.

Extracts from Granville Sharp's representations, &c.

Sentiments of several authors, viz. George Wallace, Francis Hutcheson, and James Foster.

Extracts of an address to the assembly of Virginia.

Extract of the bishop of Gloucester's sermon.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · : James Barbot, agent general to the French African company, in his account of Africa, page 105, says, "The natives are seldom troubled with Note 2 · : Astley's collection, vol. 2, page 358.Note 3 · : M. Adanson, page 161.Note 4 · : Ibid, page 54.Note 5 · : W. Smith, page 111.Note 6 · : W. Bosman's description of Guinea, page 440.Note 7 · : Collection, vol. 2, page 640.Note 8 · In the CollectionA it is said, "That the fishing business is esteemed on the Gold Coast next to trading; that those who profess it are more Note 9 · : William Smith, page 145.Note 10 · William Smith says,A "The country about Acra, where the English and Dutch have each a strong fort, is very delightful, and the natives court Note 11 · : Smith, page 194. Bosman, page 319.Note 12 · Most parts of the Slave Coasts are represented as equally fertile and pleasant with the Gold Coast. The kingdom of Whidah has been particula Note 13 · : Collection, vol. 2, page 651.Note 14 · Snelgrave also says, "The country appears full of towns and villages; and being a rich soil, and well cultivated, looks like an entire garde Note 15 · : Bosman, page 317.Note 16 · BosmanA speaks in commendation of the civility, kindness, and great industry of the natives of Whidah; this is confirmed by Smith,B who says Note 17 · : Collect. vol. 3, p. 11.Note 18 · "There is a market held at Sabi every, fourth day,A also a weekly one in the province of Aplogua, which is so resorted to, that there are us Note 19 · : Smith, page 193.Note 20 · With respect to government, William Smith says,A "That the Gold Coast and Slave Coast are divided into different districts, some of which ar Note 21 · : Bosman, page 337. Barbot, page 335.Note 22 · The income of some of the Kings is large, Bosman says, "That the King of Whidah's revenues and duties on things bought and sold are consider Note 23 · : Astley's collection, vol. 2, page 619.Note 24 · In the CollectionA it is remarked as an excellency in the Guinea government, "That however poor they may be in general, yet there are no beg Note 25 · : Bosman, page 119.Note 26 · Bosman ascribes a further reason for this good order, viz. "That when a Negroe finds he cannot subsist, he binds himself for a certain sum o Note 27 · Bosman tells us,A "That his countrymen the Dutch, who were often obliged to trust them till they returned the next year, were sure to be hon Note 28 · : Barbot, page 237.Note 29 · There is in Benin a considerable order in government. Theft, murther, and adultery, being severely punished. Barbot says,A "If a man and a w