Residence

Abstract

Smeathman arrives at the Banana Islands and meets the Clevelands and Corkers, powerful mulatto chiefs. He describes various aspects of African life, from cures for exotic tropical diseases to African oratory and the Poro, West Africa’s secret society. He is inducted by the Clevelands to the landlord–stranger relationship, part of which involves him gifting to James Cleveland a fancy toy from London, an electrical machine. He establishes a reputation as a good doctor, visits the Plantains and the Sherbro, including Corker Town, the Kamaranka river, and Sherbro Island.