B U F 





' I'mix, 



</< I <</ />'./;///-, 



1'Jvols. Man, - 2vols. 

 4 1'lmts, - !> 



C. -Inure \~\L~, , t /'.///- 

 torn. i. p. 7, U, 

 /'.V/;/c In-, vol. n. (/3) 

 BUFFONIA, a genus of plants of the class Te- 

 trniuln.i, and order Digyuia. See BOTANY, p. 1-7. 

 BUGIA, or i i, a sea-port town of Al- 



giers, and formerly capital of a province of tliL'same 

 11:1111- , i-, built on the ruins of Salda, at the bottom 

 of a high mountain, looking towards the north-east; 

 and is watered by the river Huct el Quibir, suppo- 

 sed to be the Nasava of Ptolemy. It is surrounded 

 with a stone wall, and strongly defended by a castle, 

 which stands on the summit of the mountain, and a 

 garrison of nearly 800 Turkish sol Jiers. This force, 

 however, is unable to re-press the disorders and de- 

 predations of the savage tribes who dwell in the 

 neighbourhood, and who often commit, in the very 

 heart of the city, the most flagrant acts of rapine 

 and barbarity. These tribes generally attend the 

 market with oil, wax, dried figs, &c. and during 

 the morning are very peaceable and regular ; but the 

 day seldom closes without confusion and outrage. - 

 The harbour of Bugia is formed by a neck of land, 

 jutting out into the sea, and is defended by two forts. 

 The principal trade of the inhabitants consists in 

 plough-shares, spades, and other instruments of agri- 

 culture, which are manufactured from the iron sup- 

 plied by the adjacent mountains; and considerable quan- 

 tities of oil, wax, &c. the produce of the surrounding 

 country, is shipped here for the Levant. This town 

 submitted to the Spaniards in 1510, and five years af- 

 ter resisted all the attacks of the corsair Barbarossa ; 

 but it was retaken by the Algerines, after the luck- 

 less expedition of Charles V. in 1541. It was bom- 

 barded in 1G71, by Sir Edward Spragg, who great- 

 ly damaged the town and castle, and killed many of 

 the inhabitants. Bugia is 80 miles east of Algiers. 

 N. Lat. fUP :H', E. Long. 5 10'. (i.) 



BUGINVILLEA. See BOTANY, p. 203 & 272. 



BUILDING. See CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



BULAMA, BULAM, or BOOLAM, the most eastern 

 island of the Biju^a Archipelago, on the western coast 

 of Africa, lies in ft. Lat. 11 8', andW. Long. 14 50'. 

 It is situated on the north west of the embouchure of 

 the Rio Grande, and is separated from the main land 

 on the east by a channel, which forms an excellent 

 and capacious harbour about two miles wide, with 

 a good clear bottom, and water sufficient for the 

 largest ships to ride in safety within a cable's length 

 cf the shore. The length of this island is about 

 even leagues, and its breadth varies from two to 

 iive. 



Bulama rises from the sea with a gentle ascent for 

 the space of two leagues, to a few hills, serving as 

 the basis of some considerable mountains in the cen- 

 tre of the island, which are crowned with woods, 

 and interspersed with luxuriant vallies. It is enrich- 

 ed with lofty fruit and forest trees, forming a ver- 

 dant belt, in some places two or three miles broad, 

 and i; intersected by several rivers, which, issuing 

 from the mountains, beautify and fertilize the coun- 

 try. Whatever is required for the necessaries, the 



VOL. v. PART i. 



U B U L 



comforts, or even the luxuries of savage life, are 



luced in great profusion ; and, indepi 

 of the climate, there are few countries better calcu- 

 lated, both by its situation and productions, for all 

 the purposes of a rich and extensive commerce. Ly- 

 ing in the vicinity of nviny navigable rivers, v- 

 extend far into the continent, and which would great- 

 ly facilitate a trade with the internal parts of Africa; 

 and possessing a deep and luxuriant boil, adapted to 

 every species of cultivation, it offers itself as a most 

 desirable settlement to any European nation. Cot- 

 ton, indigo, coffee, and rice, are its spontaneous pro- 

 ductions ; and pine apples, limes, oranges, grapes, 

 plums, cassada, guava, Indian wheat, melons, pump- 

 kins, tamarinds, bj 1 many delicious fruits, 

 grow here in great abundance. Sugar and to- 

 bacco, and indeed all the other productions of our 

 West India islands, may also be cultivated here in 

 equal perfection ; and, considering the richness of 

 the soil, to much greater advantage. 



" The island," says Captain Beaver, " is covered 

 with wood of various sizes and grain ; from that of 

 the majestic oak, to the most diminutive shrub ; and 

 from the close texture of the iron wood, to the soft 

 porous grain of the pullam or cotton tree." From 

 these, great advantages may be derived both in the 

 construction of houses and in the building and re- 

 pairing of vessels. The macheiry, of which the na- 

 turalized Portuguese in this part of Africa con- 

 struct their decks, is very easy to work, is never per- 

 forated by worms, and is deemed preferable to what 

 is generally employed for this purpose. In the marshy 

 spots are produced a particular species of wood, the 

 inner bark of which is made into a kind of tow which 

 never rots ; and also a species of reed, from which 

 very good cordage is manufactured by the negroes. 



On the southern side ef the island are extensive 

 savannahs, or natural meadows, well stocked with 

 oxen and wild horses ; and stags, goats, buffaloes, 

 and elephants, are to be found in great numbers ; 

 while the lion, tiger, jackal, and other beasts of 

 prey, except the hyaena, though natives of the neigh- 

 bouring continent, are unknown in Bulama. Vast 

 flocks of game are seen all over the island; and doves, 

 guinea fowls, and various other birds, celebrated for 

 the beauty of their plumage, breed undisturbed in 

 the woods. The shores, also, afford a great variety 

 of fish, particularly plenty of excellent turtle. 



The climate, as must be expected from the lati- 

 tude of the place, cannot but be insalubrious ; but 

 it might be greatly improved by clearing and culti- 

 vating the country. According to Captain Beaver's 

 observations at noon, the thermometer was never 

 lower than 74, and seldom higher than 96', the 

 medium temperature being 8.5. A fine sea breeze 

 which sets in about mid-day, rendeis the evenings 

 temperate and pleasant ; and the gei eral difference 

 between the temperature of noon and night, is from 

 20 to 30 degrees. The dew, which begins to fall 

 immediately after sunset, producess a sort of chilli- 

 ness in the air, which would induce some to put on 

 warmer clothing, and even to light a fire in their 

 houses ; and the absence of the sun for twelve hours, 

 which gives the earth time to cool, renders the mor- 



