It can fcarce be doubted that the French appeared on
thofc favage coafts before their rivals ; but they entirely
loft fight of them till the year 1621, when their flag began
again to appear there. T'he fettlement which they formed
at that period in Senegal, acquired,' in 1678, fome increafe
from the terror which the vidorious arms of Lewis XIV
had infpircd. This rifing power became the prey of a for-
midable enemy under the reign of his fuccefTor* Other
fiadories, fuccefiively formed, and become ufelefs in the
harrds of a monopoly, had already been forfaken. Accord-
'ingly, for want of fcttlements, the trade of that country
hath always been infuificient for its rich colonies.' In iu
greateft profperity, it hath never furnifiied them more than
thirteen or fourteen thoufand flaves annually.
