A description of the island of Anno-Bona : shewing its eligibility and importance as an occasional place of resort for our Guinea-men, East-Indiamen, Botany-Bay-men, and ships carrying passengers to the Cape of Good Hope : also, as a naval and military station, to foster and protect our increasing commerce to the western coast of Africa : with a map and fine views of the island, and an appendix, containing a letter addressed to William Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. on the causes and prevention of sickness and mortality among seamen employed in the African trade / by Elliot Arthy.

Arthy, Elliot, 1765-

Date:: 1820

Credit: A description of the island of Anno-Bona : shewing its eligibility and importance as an occasional place of resort for our Guinea-men, East-Indiamen, Botany-Bay-men, and ships carrying passengers to the Cape of Good Hope : also, as a naval and military station, to foster and protect our increasing commerce to the western coast of Africa : with a map and fine views of the island, and an appendix, containing a letter addressed to William Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. on the causes and prevention of sickness and mortality among seamen employed in the African trade / by Elliot Arthy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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and were they favored with a British Governor, by the introduction of a few useful arts and profitable employments, and with an able minister of the gospel, they would, doubtless, soon become very industrious, useful, and orderly subjects. Even in their present state of degradation and wretchedness, they will be found extremely use- ful to ships touching there; for, besides fetching them wood and water, should any ship be in distress, through sickness and mortality of her crew, assistance from these people may be obtained on very reasonable terms; and many of them are not only tolerably good seamen, but also capable of great improvement in that capa- city: this has, indeed, been often experienced by our Guinea-men. To those commanders who have visited Anno- Bona, or been in the practice of trading to the coast of Africa, no instructions are here required for their government at that island; but, it may be necessary to acquaint others, who are stran- gers there, that under the present circumstances of the inhabitants, they do not require money for any of the refreshments or necessaries they can supply, nor are there any established cus- toms payable to them for anchorage or water. Seamen’s cloathing, coarse woollen and cotton cloths, pocket handkerchiefs, hats and worsted caps, hardware and earthenware, gunpowder,

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