This is the best account of the period of the Africa Company’s affairs on the Gambia river; and is one of the cornerstones of west African travel literature, as it gave an paralleled view of the interior, the author having penetrated some six hundred miles inland.Moore was employed in Africa from 1730 to 1735, being one of two factors at Joar in 1732. Apart from the narrative, there are several useful appendices, including a full listing of the Company’s establishment at James fort in 1730: headed by the First Chief Merchant, his deputy who was also Warehouse Keeper, then the Accomptant, Secretary, 8 Factors, 13 Writers, a Wax-refiner, Tanner, Surgeon and his three Mates, a Surveyor, two Gardeners, two Masons, Linguister, Steward, Armourer, Bombay (?), two Coopers, a Joyner, Carpenter, Purveyor and Gunner, thirty-six soldiers, including the Captain, and thirty-two castle slaves, besides several boats and their crews.It is interesting to note Moore’s later career took him to Georgia where, acting as storekeeper under General Oglethorpe, he helped establish the colony.
The Thomas Percival [of Royton] copy with his attractive pictorial bookplate; later Franklin Brooke-Hitching.
