EUROPE IN WEST AFRICA 327 coast trade, and, making friends with the blacks at two or three points of the coast, built forts from which they traded. These were commercial settlements of no great importance, whose local representatives won small respect for themselves upon the coast, and they were at a later period bought out by the English.

The rise of English trade followed close upon the heels of the Dutch. It may perhaps be said to have begun with the famous slave-raiding expeditions of which Hawkins relates the details without any shame, and of which Queen Elizabeth was not too proud to share the profit.

Hakluyt, In describing the initiation of the English trade, shows clearly enough in what good esteem it was held. "Master John Hawkins," he tells us, ''having made divers voyages to the Isles of the Canaries, and there by his good and upright dealing being grown in love and favour with the people, informed himself . . . that negroes were very good merchandise in HIspaniola, and that store of negroes might easily be had upon the \ coast of Guinea." He accordingly "resolved with himself to make trial thereof, and communicated that devise with his worshipful friends of London, namely, with Sir Lionel Ducket, Sir Thomas Lodge, Mr. Gunson, his father-in-law, Sir William Winter, Mr. Bromfield, and others. All which persons liked so well of his intention that they became liberal contributors and adventurers in the action. For which purpose there were three good ships immediately provided." These good ships sailed under Hawkins' command in October of 1562, touching at Sierra Leone, where Hawkins " stayed some good time, and got Into his possession, partly by the sword and partly by other means, to the number of 300 negroes at the least. With this praye he sailed over the ocean sea to the Island of Hispaniola." His venture proved so profitable that, in addition to lading his own ships, he laded two other hulks with hides, sugars, ginger, pearls, and other commodities of the islands. "So with