to us, informing us by signs that they had elephants teeth, and brought us one of 8 pounds and a small one only one pound weight, both of which we bought.  Then they brought some other teeth to the river side, giving us to understand by signs that they would sell them to us if we came next day.  We then gave a manillio each to two chiefs, and departed to the ships.  We sent another boat to a different place on shore, where some of the natives in the canoes at sea made signs that fresh water was to be had; and on going there they found a town but no river, yet the people brought them fresh water and shewed an elephants tooth, making signs that they would sell them such next day.  This river lies 13 leagues beyond Cape Palmas, having a rock to the westwards about a league out to sea, and there juts out from the river a point of land on which grow five trees which may be discerned two or three leagues off when coming from the westwards; but the river itself cannot be seen till close upon it, and then a small town may be seen on either side, each of which has a diago or captain.  The river is small, but the water is fresh and good[238].  Two miles beyond the river, where the other town lies, another point runs oat to sea, which is green like a meadow, having only six trees growing upon it, all distant from each other, which is a good mark to know it by, as I have not seen as much bare land on the whole coast[239].  In this place, and three or four leagues to the westwards, there grow many palm trees, from which the natives have their palm wine, all along shore.  These trees are easily known almost two leagues off, as they are very straight, tall and white bodied, and thickest in the middle, having no limbs or boughs, but only a round bush of leaves at the top.  In this top the natives bore a hole, to which they hang a bottle or empty gourd, and in this they receive the juice that runs from the tree, which is their wine.

[Footnote 238:  From the indicated distance eastwards from Cape Palmas, and the description in the text, the river and point in question seem those called Tabou, in long. 7 deg. 10’ W. from Greenwich.—­E.]

[Footnote 239:  It is hardly necessary to observe that these are very bad land-marks, being subject to alteration from many causes; besides that this description is above 250 years old.—­E.]

From Cape Palmas to Cape Tres-puntas or Three-points, the distance is 100 leagues east[240]; and from Cape Three-points to the port where we proposed to sell our cloth are other 40 leagues[241].  The language here, as far as I could judge, seemed to differ little from that formerly mentioned.  The people likewise dress much in the same manner, or almost naked, but they were gentler in their manners and better looking.  They chiefly coveted manillios and margarites, and cared very little for the rest of our wares.  About 9 o’clock A.M. some boats came off to us from both towns, bringing with them some elephants