Page 78
An.1683
River of Sherbora in Guinea.
have touched no more till we came to the Streights of Magellan, But when we came into the lat. of 19 deg. North, we met the Winds at S. by W. and S.S.W. therefore we altered our refolutions, and fteered away for the Coaft of Guinea, and in few days came to the Mouth of the River of Sherbora, which is an Englifh Factory, lying South of Sierra Liona. We had one of our Men who was well ac- quainted there ; and by his direction we went in among the Shoals, and came to an anchor.
Sherboro was a good way from us, fo I can give no account of the place, or our Factory there ; fave that I have been informed, that there is a confiderable Trade driven there for a fort of Red Wood for Dying, which grows in that Country very plentifully ; 'tis called by our people Cam-wood. A little within the fhore where we anchored was a Town of Negroes, Natives of this Coaft. It was skreen'd from our fight by a large Grove of Trees that grew between them and the fhore: but we went thither to them feveral times during the 3 or 4 days of our ftay here, to re- frefh our felves ; and they came as often came aboard us, bringing with them Plantains, Sugar-canes, Palm- wines, Rice, Fowls and Honey, which they fold us. They were no way fhy of us, being well ac- quainted with the Englifh, by reafon of our Guinea- Factories and Trade. This Town feem'd pretty large ; the Houfes but low and ordinary ; but one great Houfe in the midft of it, where their chief men meet and receive Strangers : and here they treated us with Palm-wine. As to their Perfons, they are like other Negroes. While we lay here we fcrubb'd the bottom of our Ship, and then fill'd all our Water-Casks ; and buying up two Punche- ons of Rice for our Voyage, we departed from hence about the middle of November 1683, profe- cuting our intended courfe towards the Straits of Magellan.
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