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A Striking Example in Full Wash Color
This striking map by Robert Sayer presents the western coast of Africa, focusing on the region of Senegambia, which encompasses present-day Senegal, The Gambia, and portions of Mauritania, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea. The map extends from Cap Blanco and the Arguin Banks in the north to the mouth of the Rio Nuñez and Cap Virgo in the south. Following the course of the Senegal River, the map traces it as far east as the Felou Rocks, a notable cataract now the site of the Félou Hydroelectric Plant in Mali.
Sayer’s map derives its geographical foundation from Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville’s Carte Particulière De La Côte Occidentale De L’Afrique Depuis le Cap Blanc jusqu’au Cap De Verga et du Cours Des Rivières De Sénégal et de Gambie (1751). However, Sayer's map is significantly enriched with cultural and commercial details drawn from Francis Moore’s Travels into the Inland Parts of Africa (1738). Moore, who worked as a factor for the Royal African Company in The Gambia for five years, provided extensive firsthand descriptions of trade, settlement, and geography. Sayer incorporates these notes, offering a uniquely detailed picture of the European trading presence in the region.
The map pays special attention to the trade in Gum Arabic, a critical commodity harvested from Acacia Senegal trees. The forests producing this valuable resin, including the Forest of Lebiar, Forest of Sahel, and Forest of Alfatak, are carefully marked and attributed to different Moorish tribes. These forests supplied the gum that was transported via caravan to the Senegal River and then exported by European merchants. The map also emphasizes the strategic importance of river navigation, as the Senegal and Gambia Rivers provided the only means for European traders to access the interior. France, in particular, sought to dominate this trade, vying for control of the region’s commercial networks, as seen in earlier maps by Nicolas de Fer and Guillaume de l’Isle.
A significant feature of the map is its detailed annotation of English trading settlements along the Gambia River, drawn from Francis Moore’s observations. These factories, established by the Royal African Company, were trading posts used to facilitate commerce in provisions, wax, ivory, and enslaved people. The major factories and their primary functions are listed:
- James Fort – The principal English settlement, located on James Island, controlling trade on the river.
- Cabata Factory – Located south of James Island, used primarily for provisioning.
- Jillifree Factory – Positioned opposite James Fort, it supplied vegetables and served as a burial ground for English traders.
- Vintain Factory – A key trading post for wax, ivory, and dry goods.
- Jereja Factory – Known for its trade in dry goods and wax.
- Kolar Factory – Established on the River Kolar but abandoned by 1733.
- Tankrowal Factory – Situated in the Kingdom of Caen, primarily dealing in beeswax.
- Joar Factory – A significant trading hub for enslaved individuals.
- Wallia and Yamyamakunda Factories – Destroyed by floods in 1733 and rebuilt, mainly trading in slaves and teeth (likely elephant ivory).
- Fattatenda Factory – The farthest inland factory, abandoned in 1734 due to conflicts with local populations.
The map also notes the presence of gold deposits in the Bambouk region along the Senegal River, a critical source of gold for West African and European traders. The text describes the local mining practices, emphasizing how unskilled miners extracted gold by merely scraping the surface or panning it from river sediments. The secrecy surrounding these goldfields and the reluctance of local traders to share information with Europeans are also noted.
The map features a visually striking title cartouche, designed in the style of Thomas Jefferys, depicting an allegorical representation of Africa. The title is inscribed on a stone stele entwined with vines and shaded by a palm tree. Surrounding this monolith are a variety of exotic animals, including a crocodile, ostrich, snake, lion, and camel—symbols of Africa’s perceived wildness and riches. A Black woman, meant to personify Africa, sits beside the lion, notably wearing an elephant headdress. In the background, Egyptian pyramids rise, an incongruous detail given that Egypt is geographically distant from the region depicted, but likely included to reinforce the map’s exotic and imperial aesthetic for European audiences.
