In justice to them, however, it must be observed, that there is too much reason to believe that they have not always been treated fairly by the few white people with whom they have had intercourse; and there is little doubt that their history would discover much that might be adduced in extenuation of their singular manners. It is said that the first white man who visited Kanyabac imposed on the natives; a circumstance which may account for their behaviour to strangers. The result is, that they are insincere and unjust in their communications,-one which often obtains among people of more pretensions to civilization.

The WINDS in the eastern channel are generally light in the fine season, particularly in the morning and evening. They set in gradually in the afternoon, and almost blow constantly from S.S.W. round by West, to N.N.W.; they remain but a short time at any intermediate point, and soon follow the direction of the land, which trends nearly N. by E. and S. by W. During the rainy season, easterly winds are prevalent, to which period winds from this quarter are entirely limited.

The TIDES are as regular in the eastern as in the Jeba or Great Channel. The length of the ebb is equal to that of the flood; the former sets to the northward, the latter to the southward; but the different points of the channel, and the irregularities of the bottom, affect those directions. The mean rise of the tide is from 12 to 15 feet. The strength of the stream varies according to the breadth and depth of the channel, being greater where it is confined than in the wider parts; it is, consequently, more considerable in the strait of Bulama, and the Honey Island channel, than in any other part. Nevertheless, it seldom exceeds 24 miles per hour, but is frequently as much as two, at two miles to the westward of Pullam Island. It is high water, at full and change, at 10h. 15m.

The coast, to the south-eastward of the Rio Grande, is shoal and dangerous to some extent from the land. Eight leagues S.E. S. (S.E. E.) from Pullam Island, is the rocky bank of Alcatras, on which is a small islet 50 feet high, surrounded by breakers, with reefs two miles in extent, both from the N.W. and S.E. Between Alcatras and the River Nunez there is another dangerous reef, named by Captain Owen, in 1826, the Conflict Reef, the western side of which is 14 miles, to the S.E. from the Alcatras, and its breadth each way is between 3 and 4 miles. Two other rocky banks lie within a distance of 8 miles to the southward, having a depth of 12 to 16 fathoms, near the most southern extremity, distant about 30 leagues W.S.W. from the entrance of the River Nunez.

THE RIVER NUNEZ, or, as it is named by the natives, Kakoondie, is much inferior in size to those previously mentioned. Its whole course probably does not exceed 250 miles, while the Rio Grande runs more than 400; but it offers a safe navigation to a great distance from the sea. It rises in the chain of hills which separates Senegambia from Sierra Leone, near 13° W. longitude, and its general direction, for about two-thirds of its course, is to the west, and the remainder to the west of south. In the upper part of its course it is full of rapids and falls. It becomes navigable, for vessels of moderate size, above the settlement of Debucko or Rebucko, and up to this place the tide ascends. From this place downward, the general depth of the river may be stated at 2 to 3 fathoms at low water, with a rise and fall of about 12 feet. The river has three channels at its mouth, two of which are navigated by vessels. The northern admits only vessels drawing less than 12 feet, but the southern may be entered by large ships. They are separated from one another by an island named Sandy Island. The low country, near its mouth, is uninhabited for want of fresh water, and the first settlement,

Walkeria, occurs at the distance of 70 miles from the sea, measured along the course of the river.

Vessels bound to the Nunez should make the land in 10° 31′ N., or, if coming from the southward, should, at least, not advance into less than 7 fathoms, till in that latitude. They will then approach the river, steering E. S. (N. 75° E.) through regular soundings; and it is necessary to remember, chiefly, that with a flood tide, there is a dangerous rocky flat on the starboard beam, going in; while, on the other hand, a vessel may play with the edge of the breakers on the point of Sandy Island on the larboard side. The constant warning, also, Keep in mud," which is familiar in all channels along this coast, should be here especially kept in mind.

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The following are the directions given for it by Lieutenant Bold, but they must be used with caution:-" When Cove point (the N.W. side of the entrance) bears about N.W., and the south point on its opposite bank East, you will be in 7 or 8 fathoms, in a fair way for the river. Due south of the lastmentioned point there are breakers, and a shoal 6 miles in breadth, some parts dry at low water. Sailing in, keep over within a mile and a half of the south point, for the river is interspersed with banks, to nearly 5 miles from the opposite side. From hence to North Point, the entrance to Talagos River, it is 2 leagues, with a channel of 4, 5, and 6 fathoms; but between which there is a shoal to be avoided, by not bringing the North point to bear farther north than E.N.E. The channel there is only one mile and a half broad, but good anchorage round the point in 5 fathoms, abreast of the river. At the mouth of the Nunez it is high water, on the full and change, at 11, with a rise of 9 feet. The river is navigable 10 leagues up, for vessels of burthen, the least water being 3 fathoms over the flats opposite the river Talagos. The River Nunez has been known as a place of trade in ivory, where, as at the Rivers Pongo, Dembra, &c., it is very abundant."

A small isle, called Young Gonzales, lies about 5 miles to the eastward from the regular entrance of the Rio Nunez. It is the southernmost of three, having channels communicating with the Nunez; and about 5 miles true east from it is the mouth of the River Cappatches. From Young Gonzales a long dangerous flat of rocky ledges, gravel and sand, extends S.W. (by compass) nearly six miles. At low water, a patch, three-quarters of a mile in length, has over it only six feet of water. The Cappatches is a trading river, but shallow, and frequented only by boats, or vessels not drawing more than 4 feet of water.

CAPE VERGA.-About 9 leagues to the south-eastward of the Nunez is Cape Verga, which is a low point. The high mountains, 3 leagues inland to the northward of the cape, will serve to recognise this part of the coast, as they may be seen 15 leagues distant. Thus bearing East, (E.N.E. E.) are they equally useful to ships bound to the Rio Nunez, which, with this bearing, will clear the banks lying without the river, at 5 or more leagues to the southwestward.

RIO PONGO.-About 7 leagues S.S.E.E. (S.E.) from Cape Verga is the entrance to Rio Pongo, which forms itself into several channels, each impeded by a bar of mud or sand. The best of these is over the Rissing, or Mud Bar, which extends more than 2 miles to the westward of the main channel of the river. On its north side are 6 feet, about the middle 12 feet, and on the south side 8 or 9 feet, at low water. Two hills up the country, bearing E.N.E., serve as a mark for the bar, distinguished also by a grove of palm trees on the north side.

To sail over the Mud Bar, get the river open, and steer in N.E. by E., keeping the two hills, which are moderately high, a cable's length open of

the North Point, by which you will carry 4 fathoms in depth at high water, or 2 fathoms at low water. Anchor in 7 or 8 fathoms, in the middle of the river, abreast the palm trees on the larboard hand, which trees appear to extend about two miles in length; then send your boat up the river for a pilot, or fire a gun twice or thrice, at intervals of about an hour, and in all probability a pilot will come off to you. If bound to this place in the night, approach no nearer than to the depth of 4 fathoms, until daylight. If beating in, stand no farther to the northward than to bring the two hills in the middle between the two points of the river; then stand to the southward to 2 and 24 fathoms. If going in, with a fair wind, bring the north point of the river, with its palm trees, to bear N.E., and run in with it bearing N.E. by E. On entering, keep on the south side within the bar, as the flood-tide sets on the northern breakers. Should you here have 1 fathoms, you need not fear, as the bottom is all of mud. The river hence lies east and west, about 8 miles; and its depths, in mid-channel, are 3, 4, 7, 6, and 5 fathoms.

The Sand Bar is 5 miles to the southward of the Mud Bar, and its entrance is more intricate, therefore not to be attempted without a pilot. This is, nevertheless, the mouth of the Rio Pongo, properly so called. In the best channel, at the entrance, the depth is 12 feet at low water, and within it are 4 and 5 fathoms. A small sand bank having showed just above water, at high tide, to the northward of the Sand Bar, and mangroves having taken root on it, the bank consequently increased, and the natives have planted palm trees on it. There is said to be a passage of 3 fathoms to the northward of this islet. Vessels bound to the Rio Pongo sometimes make the high land of Cape Verga, and sometimes go to the Isles de Los for a pilot, although one is not always to be found there. Some run in by their latitude, taking care to sound frequently, as soundings extend out a degree and a half to the westward. The time of high water here, on the full and change, is 9h; the rise about 10 feet.

DEMBIA RIVER is distant about 8 leagues to the south-eastward of the Pongo. It is navigable for small vessels, and is chiefly resorted to by the Portuguese for ivory. Two leagues from this is Sangaree River, and 6 miles to the south-westward of the latter is Point Tumbo. Immediately behind the River Sangaree is the high mountain Kakulimah which rises to the height of 2910 feet; and a few miles inland on the north shore of the river is Mount

Soumba or Tkit-chin, which is 1705 feet high. These mountains can be seen all along this part of the coast, and are considered to be good marks when making the land.

ISLES DE LOS.-These islands are about 16 miles to the southward of the River Sangaree. The largest is named Tamara, and is the most western of the group. The easternmost, on which the English factory was established,

lies nearly north and south, and has a high wood-crowned hill at each end, which gives it the appearance of two islands at a distance. Crawford's Island lies between the two former, and three smaller islets to the southward complete the cluster. Tamara may be seen 7 or 8 leagues in clear weather; it is moderately high, and thickly wooded, in shape resembling a crescent, its concavity to the S.E. forming several good anchorages of 4 to 6 fathoms. These roadsteads may be entered either from the northward or the southward, giving the points of the island a berth of three-quarters of a mile, by which the Arethusa Reef, extending a quarter of a mile from the north point, will be avoided. Fresh water may be had in abundance, from a spring near the principal anchorage.

The easternmost, or Factory Island, is 4 miles in length; the roadstead is on the eastern side, and is very safe in dry weather; but during the rainy and tornado season there is little security beyond that of the goodness of your cables and anchors. The English establishment now extends to Crawford's Island, which is considerably elevated; from the N.E. of this island are shoal flats extending to the distance of nearly two miles, they are one mile in breadth, and dry, on the outer edge, at low water; in every other respect, except Cooper's Rocks off Shark Island, the channel through the islands is perfectly safe.

The ISLES DE Los are excessively commodious for trade, being most easy of access, and commanding a communication with the numerous rivers in the vicinity of the coasts Good fishing may be found about all the islands with the seine, and an abundance of turtle, with good fresh water. From hence Sangaree Mount is plainly seen in a northerly direction. It may be an useful remark further to observe, that, north of the islands from the Gambia, the soundings are all sandy, which change immediately to mud on the south.

DIRECTIONS FOR SAILING FROM CAPE ROXO TO THE ISLES DE LOS.-By the Baron Roussin.-"A vessel starting from a point at 44 leagues to the westward of Cape Roxo, which will be a little without the meridian of 17° W. to the parallel of 10° 40′ N. will be outside of all dangers. From hence a course S.E. E. (S. 68° E.) and distance 68 leagues, will lead her to the west point of Tamara Island. On this course the soundings will never be under 8 fathoms until near the shore of the island, and those on the first course will be considerably more. From the parallel of Cape Roxo to that of the western breaker 11° 31′ 32" N., at a distance of more than 4 leagues to the westward of the meridian of 17° the depth will increase progressively from 8 to 28 fathoms, and the bottom be entirely of mud This remark may be depended on to shew that a vessel is not far to the southward of the parallel of the Jeba, or Great Channel; she cannot, at the utmost, be more than ten miles from the positions already given.

From this point, as far as the parallel of 10° 40′ N., the bottom is nearly free from mud, and on passing to the southward of the parallel of 11° 20′ very slight traces of it remain, but are succeeded by a bottom of fine white sand, sand and gravel, sand and broken shells, with a depth varying from 12 to 50 fathoms. A vessel having left Cape Roxo and arrived in latitude 10° 40', may thence steer a direct course for the Isles de Los.

The S.W. edge of the Bissagos follows a gentle curve, from the western breaker as far as the southern one, that of La Bayadere. The bottom in this part presents a singular peculiarity. Amongst the fine white sand, sand and broken shells, sand and gravel, of which it is most frequently composed, a greenish coloured sand is sometimes found. The depth decreases very gradually from 50 to 9 fathoms, from S.W. to N.E. The remainder of the

course to the Isles de Los passes over deep soundings, as much as 50 fathoms, at the point of departure, and the least depth is 12 fathoms.

No precise rule can be given as to the changes in the depth along this track, nor as to the various nature of the bottom. It is known only that the ground, in the space passed over by this course, seems to be furrowed with channels, which, commencing from the southern extremity of the eastern channel of Bissagos, diverge toward different points between S.W. and S.S.E. true. The furrows above mentioned appear to have been caused by the regular tides in the mouth of the Rio Grande, and prove, beyond a doubt, that the outlet of the same channel is partly caused by that river. With respect to the nature of the bottom, it is of fine sand, in some places mixed with broken shells, small pieces of brittle rock, and gravel, which appeared to be only a covering to beds of a whitish volcanic sandstone, into which the lance penetrated but three or four inches, and did not hold. A muddy bottom is not found until about 10 leagues to the westward of the Isles de Los, and then only in small quantity, till within a very short distance to the N.W. of those islands.

TIDES.-In proportion to the distance from the mouth of the Jeba, or Great Channel of Bissagos, either to the northward or southward, the tides lose their regularity. This interruption in the tides is evident in going to the southward, as at a few miles south of the parallel of the western breaker 11° 31′32′′ N., they are no longer perceptible, even on the edge of the Bissagos. No decided course of the current was ascertained to exist, but it is generally allowed that the waters have a greater inclination to flow to the southward than to the northward; and it may be presumed that it follows the direction of the winds on the western edge of the Archipelago, but it is seldom found to be considerable."

COAST CONTINUED.-Between the Isles de Los and the sharp low point of Tumbo, there is a safe channel, through which ships may carry 3 fathoms of water, and which may be at times highly convenient to use, or even to run through the group; yet, without some good reason for so doing, it will always be advisable to go outside the islands, where certainly no dangers are to be met with.

From Tumbo Point to Matacong Island the bearing and distance are S.E. by S. 7 leagues. Tumbo Point is the S.W. extremity of an island bearing the same name, and separated by a narrow high-water channel from the main land. To the southward of this point, the land falls back to the north-eastward about 7 miles, forming an extensive but shallow bay, at the bottom of which is an inconsiderable stream, named Tannaney River. In the extensive bay between the Isles de Los and Matacong Isle, no detached dangers exist. The coast is safe to approach, the soundings being gradual, and always affording good anchorage; and it is in all parts accessible to large ships, to the distance of 6 miles, which generally may be considered sufficiently near to distinguish the land, and often to recognise the mouths of the rivers.

Mahneah River is about 12 miles E.S.E. from Tumbo Point; it is at low water, scarcely accessible to the smallest coasting vessels, but the rise of tide exceeds 2 fathoms. To enter this river, it is necessary only to bring the western point of the entrance, while at the distance of 5 miles from it, to bear N.E. by E. E. and then steer toward it in that direction, until you get close to the S.W., mud bank, when you may proceed along by the edge of that bank, in a convenient depth, according to circumstances. Within the river, the depths at low water are from 6 to 10 feet only. The water discharged from this river must be very great, as the ebb tide runs out with rapidity.