Observations on the slave trade and a description of some part of the coast of Guinea, during a voyage, made in 1787, and 1788, in company with Doctor A. Sparrman and Captain Arrehenius

Chapter 21: CHAP. III. Of Musketoes.

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About This Book

This work presents observations made during a voyage to the Coast of Guinea, focusing on the slave trade and the treatment of Africans by Europeans. It discusses various methods of procuring slaves, including war, pillage, and treachery, while also examining the conditions under which enslaved individuals are treated. The author explores the potential for agricultural development in Africa and assesses the natural resources of the region, including its climate and soil. The text aims to contribute to the discourse on human rights and the improvement of conditions for Africans, reflecting on the broader implications of European settlements in the area.

CHAP. III.
Of Musketoes.

The musketoes are generally very troublesome; but as they are only generated in stagnant and putrid water, it is easy to perceive that this evil is not without a remedy; because by draining the marshes, and by cultivating the land, the cause which produces them will in a great measure be removed. It is likewise certain, that it is not difficult to accustom one’s-self to them, and it is astonishing to see with what unconcern the negroes walk quite naked, surrounded by swarms of those insects, without regarding their attacks. Smoke, in general, is a good preservative against them.[11]