" The plantation was successful,
but the bad climate and noxious gases from the newly turned
ground, combined with over-exertion, soon killed some seventeen
out of the forty; and the remainder, who also suffered from
malignant distempers, razed their buildings and returned to the
Gold Coast. When the Crown of Spain once more took possession of
Fernando Po, it appointed a Governor for Corisco, but no
establishment was maintained there. To its credit be it said,
there was not much interference with the Protestant mission;
public preaching was forbidden pro forma in 1860, but no notice
was taken of "passive resistance."
The native villages, exactly resembling those of the Gaboon, are
all built near the strip of fine white sand which forms the
shore, and upon the sweet water channels which cut deep into the
limestones. They are infested with rats, against whose
depredations the mango trees must be protected with tin ruffs;
yet there are six kinds of reptilia upon the island, including
the common black snake and cobras, from six to seven feet long:
these animals, aided by the dogs, which also persecute the
iguanas, have prevented rabbits breeding.
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