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[10] Although these men are hired under the denomination of Kroo men,
they are generally Kroo, and Fish men, who inhabit the country between
Sierra Leone and our settlement of Cape Coast Castle.

[11] There were only nineteen prisoners in the calendar, one of whom was a soldier, Patrick Riley, for a desperate attempt to murder a serjeant with his bayonet.  The rest of the prisoners were principally Kroomcn, and other black fellows, for house-breaking, stealing, &c. &c.

[12] In these cases the principal felons remained unknown.

[13] King George was the first king of Boollam, that had been allowed to die a natural death, through fear of getting ‘a palaver,’ as they term it, with Sierra Leone.  Previous to this, they always despatched their kings when they considered them about to expire, sacrificing two human victims, whom they buried in the same grave.

[14] Meaning that the late king loved him as a son.

[15] It is but right to state, that the above speech was read over sentence by sentence, to the person who spoke it, and that he deemed it to be almost literally reported, and seemed much astonished that it could have been taken down.

[16] The new appellation of John Macaulay Wilson.

CHAP.  IV.

Auction at Sierra Leone—­Timber Establishments in the River—­Tombo, Bance and Tasso Islands—­Explosion of a Vessel at Sea—­Liberated Africans—­Black Ostlers—­Horses Imported—­Slave Vessel—­Colonial Steam Vessel—­Road and Street Repairs—­Continued Rains—­Suggestion for preserving the Health of European Seamen—­General Views of the Colony—­Population—­Parishes—­Supply of Provisions—­Description of Freetown—­Curious Letter from Black Labourers—­Original Settlers—­ Present Inhabitants—­Trade with the Interior—­Strange Customs of Native Merchants—­Anecdote of Sailors—­Injurious Example of the Royal African Corps—­Vaccination of Natives—­Medical Opinion—­Departure from Sierra Leone

Monday, Sept. 24th.—­Still stronger signs of the breaking up of the rainy season, more frequent heavy showers, with thunder and lightning for the last two days.  A fine morning, but squally and showery in the afternoon.  There was an auction held to-day of the effects of the late Tasco Williams, Esq.; one peculiar feature of which is worth noting.  The persons who had assembled were hospitably entertained with bread and cheese, and abundance of wine and spirits, with a view, no doubt, to increase the animation and excitement of the scene.  Whether the bidders became extravagant in consequence, I do not know, but I think it very likely; at all events I suspect that the auctioneer was trying an experiment on the animal spirits of the company.  This custom, although by no means familiar to Englishmen, is very generally practised in the north of England.  It is probably a relique of ancient manners.