^ Portuguese Explorations 



The capital town is on the island of Bulama, and this is slightly- 

 interwoven with the more modern history of Liberia, because 

 an attempt was made by the British at the close of the eighteenth 

 century to found a precursor of Liberia on this large deserted 

 island in the estuary of the River Jeba. But for a series of 

 accidents and the great unhealthiness of the site, it is possible 

 that " Liberia," the colony of free blacks, might have had 

 its centre here. 



25. PORTUGUESE WARRIOR IN AFRICA, ON HORSEBACK : EARLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 

 DRAWN FROM A BENIN CARVING IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM 



53 



