bourhood, and that we were not friends to them; on which the King and his Council withdrew to the shade of a large silk cotton tree, in conclave, for the space of 20 or 30 minutes. They then returned and proceeded in discussing the condition strenuously urged from the beginning by the King, as the basis on which alone he could accede to our wishes in relation to the lands. We had stated, that we came not with any hostile intentions, and that the character of the settlement was to be unwarlike and agricultural. They demanded of us a positive stipulation, to make book, as they term it, that the settlers and agents should act in consistency with this character, and in no way assist the armed ships sent to the coast to suppress the slave trade, by communicating to them any information that might prove injurious to the Bassa people. We represented to them the advantages which would attend their • relinquishing the trade altogether; stating that in a very short time it must cease, as so many ships of war would be sent to the coast, as to catch every slave vessel, and put an end to the exportation of the people; still they insisted on the condition; and at the breaking up of the palaver, told us we should have the lands, provided we agreed to insert the condition iu the contract, [book.] They directed us to explore the country, and (as the King said, "lookem straight,” laying down his palaver brush in a straight position,) and fix upon the tract best adapted to our purpose, at the same time indicating the quarter where those lands lay, which they could best afford to spare. We returned on board the schooner somewhat encouraged but still we felt dissatisfied with the condition upon which they insisted; however, considering that it could have no practical operation, inasmuch as, if, while in our infant state, we were to show a disposition to use any other means than persuasion in urging them to abandon the traffic in slaves, we should incur their displeasure, and cause the destruction of the whole of our expectations of future suc

cess, we were tolerably content. After asking the merciful aid of Divine Grace, we retired to rest.

Wednesday, April 11th, 1821.-This day went on shore, when it began to rain. There has been a little rain every day for six or seven days past. It appears that the rains are setting in. The King sent a servant to us, with a message informing us that he would be ready to receive us, after the rains had ceased. We arrived at the King's town. We had a short palaver, after ascertaining that we could not obtain land upon any better terms. It is, however, probable, that at no distant period the natives may be induced to abandon the slave trade altogether, without any coercive measures being used, as they will see other sources of trade present themselves to view.

The King directed some of his Headmen to accompany us, to look at the country. We walked in various directions, and returned to the Schooner, having previously explored the St. John's River as far as the Rapids, and viewed the country in various directions. We fully determined upon the territory which would be suitable for our purpose. We are more and more pleased with the appearance of the country and its inhabitants. The King took one of his boys by the hand, who was about 13 or 14 years of age, and gave him to us to learn Book. We took him on board, and put a pair of domestic pantaloons upon him, which pleased him very much.

We

Thursday, April 12, 1821.-This morning the King sent two of his Headmen on board to go with us and fix upon a place to build our town. sent back a message that we had fixed upon the place, and that we were ready to meet him in palaver, at any time he should appoint, at Jumbotown. He did not send us his answer until evening, when two of his Headmen arrived with a present from his sable Majesty, which consisted of a fine fat goat. His answer was that he would meet us at

sddock the next noming Junbotown, in grad plane. We are very aims to know the foal seoul, O Lord! further as wath thy most gracious

Friday, April 13, 1821-We met in palaver; there were more Headmea and Princes, as well as people, than at any time previous. Our present, of course, was much more valuable than before. We thanked the King for his present, and he returned the same civility for our presents. These people being ignorant of extent of territory, or of distances by measurement, we directed our Interpreters to tell them that we wanted a large tract of land, and they described it thus:-Beginning at a certain tree on the beach near Jumbotown, running due East by Compass to the top of Saddle Mountain, or two or three days walk, either of which would be a distance of from 40 to 60 miles-from thence Northwardly to St. John's River, a distance of perhaps from 50 to 70 miles; from thence down the St. John's River to its mouth; from thence along the sand beach to the aforesaid tree near Jumbotown, inclusive-supposed to be 30 or 40 miles square of territory.To our having this tract, they readily agreed, and directed their names to be set to the instrument, the conditions before mentioned being included. They all took hold of the pen and made their marks; then they cried aloud, "Palaver set! Palaver set!"

1

The agent of the Colonization Society, engaged in behalf of said Society, to give certain stipulated articles annually, which will not cost more than 300 Dollars. Pledges of mutual friendship were interchanged, whereby each party agreed to Cultivate peace and harmony, and not to make war frouble each other.

Thus we at last succeeded in convincing theme we were their friends. This, we were assured could not have done, had it not been for the

presence of Davis, and the entire absence of any display of military or naval force. We regard it as a most favourable providence that the Aligator did not bring or accompany us to the Bassa, and that no naval officer was present at the negotiations.

The King was much pleased at seeing his son with trowsers on, the people said, "He gentleman all one white man:" the King proposed to give us an elder son in lieu of the other as he said if the younger, went away, his "Mama make palaver on me." We accepted his proposition, took the elder on board, put a suit of clothes on him, and gave him the name of Bushrod Washington. His father was very much delighted to see him clothed. The King, Princes, Headmen, and people, went with us to the tree on the Beach near Jumbotown, one of the aforesaid boundaries, and a boy clambered up it, and cut off some of its branches, leaving one branch, which ascended considerably higher than the rest; to this he tied about six yards of an American pendant, which the people consider a white man's gregre or fetish, and according to their prejudice, regard as sacred. Near this spot it was thought proper to make our settlement. The King's son will go with us to Sierra Leone where he will be put to school, and taught to speak English. The King and people are all anxious that we should return immediately, even be fore the rains fully sit in, but we do not give them any encouragement of our speedy return.

These people are very kind, but are in a dreadful state of heathenish darkness; they worship the "Dibbly man" and dedicate daily a part of their food to his Satannic Majesty. They profess to believe that there is a good and merciful Deity, who can and will do them good, and not evil: but that the Devil is all powerful, and that it is necessary to appease his wrath. Every town has its peculiar Devil. [See Appendix.] The people, like all other natives, are in a state of nudity, except that

they wear about one and a half yards of narrow cloth about their loins; the men often wear hats, while the children are not burthened with any kind of cloathes, but frequently, like the adults, wear many beads. Leopard's teeth are thought to be very valuable ornaments.

The King, when in general palaver, was clad in his robes, which covered his whole body; he had on also an elegant cap; at other times he wore a drab coloured broad cloth great coat with a number of capes. His Headmen were partially clad, some with blue cloth roundabouts with military or naval buttons. They wore no shirts. Many of them had belts of beads, which contained one or more pounds each.

There are many Kroomen in the towns along the coast. They are employed as agents or factors for the authorities of the country, who monopolize all the trade. [See Appendix.] These agents have each a number of certificates from masters of vessels who have employed them. They wished us to give them books, likewise, but we had no occasion to employ them as factors. Bottle Beer required us to pay for the water with which our vessel had been furnished. With this demand, we did not comply, as we had not come "for trade." We informed the King of the demand, and he revoked it. The people all live in little villages or clusters of cottages in each of which is a Headman, who has a plurality of wives. If a native have but one wife, he is indeed very poor. The Headman is the slave holder, he owns all the people in his town. The inhabitants of each town cultivate in common. The men seldom do any labour except fish a little, and hunt. The females and small boys cultivate the lands. The men trade and direct those who are under them. I · saw a fine looking female with iron fetters on her feet, which fetters, no doubt, were brought from a slave vessel, as we observed one under French colours, lying in the harbour at the same time. I made Inquiry concerning the cause of her confinement, and