From Thomas Waters Sr. to his wife Elizabeth Waters (May 29, 1824)

[Thomas Waters, R.M., to his wife, Elizabeth]

Addressed to Mrs. Lieut. Waters, Royal Marines, Woolwich, Kent

No 3 H.M.S.Maidstone Cape Coast Castle Africa 29 May 1824

My Dearest Love

We arrived at Santa Cruz Tenrieff on Good Friday 16th April, the town is a clean looking place the streets are pretty wide and the houses on the outside do not look amiss, they have no windows to their shops, only double doors to go in and out and to admit the light, the people seem very indolent- I was ashore two or three times but there was nothing in the town to gratity the sight excepting the two churches, on Good Friday their soldiers carry their muskets reversed on account of our Saviour’s death, and the priests parade the streets carrying the host and the Virgin Mary singing occasionally a doleful tune, an Officer’s guard following after with Arms reversed The town is close to the sea, the ground round the town is very mountainous and nearly barren, the inland part of the Island is very fruitful, The Peak of Tenrieffe looks more conspicuous when you are Thirty or Forty miles from the Island but when near the place it does not in my opinion look so very remarkable as one might suppose – 19th we sailed and on the 24th we arrived off the Island of Goree, we anchored for one night only, it is a miserable looking Place about two mile in circumference and about two miles from the African continent. Sunday 2nd May We arrived at Sierra Leone, the country round looks beautiful, from the water, and the town does not look amiss I did not go ashore as the Commodore was in a great hurry to be off to Cape Coast, we all had an invitation from Mr. Macauly a merchant at Sierra Leone, to dine with him, The Commodore and two of my messmates went. We find it very hot here, Pineapples a halfpenny each they grow wild as well as Oranges limes etc. cheap cotton handkerchiefs and ship’s tobacco is kept to traffic with. We left on the 5th and on the 17^th passing Cape Palma His Majesty King Waw came on board to pay respects to the Commodore, canoes in great numbers came bringing a little fruit, a few vegetables, a few fish fowls… Elephants’ teeth etc., they would have nothing but tobacco & handkerchiefs in exchange. 24th arrived at Cape Coast Castle. The war is carrying on with the Ashantees about 15 miles off but I do not believe the squadron will have any thing to do with it. Sir Charles Mc.Cartney [MacCarthy] the late Governor was killed about 150 miles in land, he was much respected as a Governor and he was so completely infatuated that he thought all the Affricanes were ready to worship him, therefore, under that persuasion he marched so far in land through trees in bushes with about 10 or 12 hundred black troops, merchants and heads of departments, with very little ammunition, but a good band of music for the purpose of making peace, when all at once they found themselves in the midst of a wood completely surrounded by the Ashantees and were in consequence cut to pieces. I hope my sweetest Love, you and our tender children are well. I enjoy very good health- direct for me at Sierra Leone I remain my tenderest Love
  Your Affectionate Husband

         Tho^s. Waters