PREFACE. THE following pages contain the Narrative of CAPTAIN JAMES FAWCKNER's sufferings and sojourn among the tribes of Western Africa, in 1825. The work is published by subscription, and will doubtless be interesting principally to his friends and the subscribers who have so kindly assisted in bringing it out. To the public, however, it is presumed, the faithful account it contains of the manners and customs of those African tribes hitherto so little known; as well as the equally faithful description of that part of the globe which has been but little explored, will prove interesting and instructive. The manuscript was prepared, from the original notes and papers, by a friend, more than two years since, without the most remote idea of its ever being published: the heavy calamity, however, which deprived Captain F. of the principal part of his property, suggested the idea of repairing his loss, in some measure, by publishing the M.S. which that individual had written solely for his own information and amusement; precisely in the form in which he left it, he sends it forth for the benefit of his respected friend. EDITOR. London May 3d, 1837. INTRODUCTION. THE Narrative commences from the 28th of June, 1825, (the period of my leaving Badagry,) but it will be necessary perhaps to inform the reader, that for some time previous to this I had been engaged on the coast of Africa. I therefore subjoin a brief account of what transpired from the period of my leaving England up to the time of the commencement of the Narrative, the loss of the ship, &c. After leaving England, the vessel I had the command of, the "Nymph," was frozen up in Amsterdam for three months; at length we sailed with a cargo of general goods for the Cape of Good Hope. We had proceeded on our voyage as far as eight degrees north of the equator, and were |