B I S 



Si~> 



B I S 



jRissat; 01 * 



of the same name in Hindostan, which extended from 

 Cape Comorin to the frontiers of Orissa. Accord- 

 ing to the Portuguese writers, it was built by Prince 

 Boka, about the year 1200, and was then called Vi- 

 Bianagur ; but F.erishta relates, that it was founded by 

 Belaldeo, king of the Carnatic, in 1344, in order to 

 guard the northern frontier of hi-s empire. In 1565, 

 it was a very large city, about twenty-four miles in 

 circuit, and containing within its walls a number of 

 hills and pagodas. Its ruins are very extensive, near- 

 ly eight miles in circumference, and many of its 

 temples are still remarkably beautiful. Several streets, 

 from 30 to 45 yards wide, have been traced among 

 its rugged hills and rocks ; and one particularly, 

 about 35 yards in breadth, and extending half a mile 

 in length, with colonnades of stone on each side, and 

 a very large pagoda at one end, is said to be in a 

 state of complete repair. The soil in its neighbour- 

 hood is fruitful, and well watered, abounding in cat- 

 tie and deer. Its inhabitants are well shaped, and 

 very ingenious in watering and painting calicoes, 

 which is the chief trade of the place. It lie3 direct- 

 ly opposite to Annagoondy, is about half a mile 

 distant from Fort Comlapour, 140 geographical miles 

 or eight days journey from Goa, 172 miles north of 

 Beringapatam, and 132 south of Visiapour. Its 

 N. Lat. is 15 15', and its E. Long. 76 34'. (j) 

 BISSAGOS. See Bijuga. 

 B1SSAO, is an island on the western coast cf 

 Africa, north of the Bijuga channel, the centre of 

 which lies in about 11 30' N. Lat. and 15 W. 

 Long. Some geographers, as we have already ob- 

 served, incline to class it with the Bijuga islands ; but, 

 in our opinion, it would, along with the neighbour- 

 ing ones on the same side of the channel, more pro- 

 perly form a separate groupe. 



Bissao is above W miles in length, and is said to 

 be from 3a to 40 leagues in circumference : it gra- 

 dually rises from the shore to the centre, where there 

 are hills discharging springs, which fertilize the coun- 

 try. The soil is rich, and productive of fruits, grain, 

 and other vegetables ; orange trees grow to an extra- 

 ordinary size ; and the land is cultivated to great ad- 

 vantage. 



The natives of this island are a race of people call- 

 ed Papels, who in appearance are rather good look- 

 ing, and in character are reputed industrious and faith- 

 ful to those whom they serve. Their dress is a 

 piece of cotton put round the loins, hanging down 

 to the knees, but boys and girls go naked. All 

 are idolaters, and offer sacrifices of cocks, dogs, 

 and oxen, which are carefully fattened, and, when 

 cut in pieces at the sacrifice, are eaten by the 

 king, his attendants, and those who are present. 

 They suppose their divinities reside in consecrated 

 trees, on which they hang the horns of the oxen as 

 an offering. The principal idol of the natives is call- 

 ed Chine, but they have very indistinct ideas of its 

 powers or properties. They entertain strange and 

 extravagant superstitions concerning witchcraft, firm- 

 ly believing that one may be bewitched by another, 

 who gradually devours him by sucking his blood. 

 Of this Captain Beaver relates a remarkable instance 

 within his own knowledge : and here we can trace a 

 faint analogy to the credulous times of antiquity in 



VOL. III. PART III. 



Britain, when it was credited that the wasting of an BUsws 

 image was fatal to the life of the original. Some oi ' -v 

 the free natives employed by that officer accused two 

 of their own number, asserting, that one of them could 

 transform himself into an alligator, and devour people; 

 and that the other wa6 said not to be a good man, be- 

 cause he wished to eat his companion ; that he had long 

 been reputed a wizard ; and that his messmates, in the 

 voyage from Bissao to Bulama, could hardly be re- 

 strained from throwing him overboard. Many peo- 

 ple, the accusers affirmed, had been destroyed by 

 his infernal art, which was the reason he had left 

 his own country ; and if ever he returned he would 

 be sold for a slave : They therefore requested per- 

 mission to punish the two culprits after their own 

 fashion, by tying them to a tree, and flogging them, 

 promising at the same time that their lives should be 

 safe. Captain Beaver, willing to save the. men, en- 

 deavoured to dispel the apprehensions of their com- 

 panions ; and to give him, who was accused of trans- 

 forming himself to an alligator, an opportunity of 

 self vindication, inquired whether the assertions were 

 true. " Yes," replied the man, " I can change my- 

 self to an alligator, and have often done it." The 

 singular coincidence between the belief of these peo- 

 ple and the superstitions of old in this kingdom, when 

 confessions were made of witchcraft, cannot cscaps 

 observation. 



The island of Bissao is ruled by thirteen chiefs, 

 whoare generally at war among themselves ; however, 

 some French authors affirm, that there is only one king, 

 who has eight subordinate chiefs, each governing a 

 province. The natives carry on frequent wars in their 

 canoes which contain 20 or 30 men, though they 

 commonly last only a few days. The warriors, oh 

 their return, are received with great rejoicings ; and 

 the prisoners whom they have taken are sold for slaves, 

 and produce much emolument. 



About two centuries ago, the Portuguese establish- 

 ed a settlement on Bissao, which still subsists ; but 

 the French claim the discovery of the island, main- 

 taining, that some Normans anciently fixed them- 

 selves there, and afterwards withdrew, owing to the 

 decline of their trade. The profits of the Portu- 

 guese, and the product of traffic from the island, 

 being 400 negroes yearly, 500 quintals of wax, and 

 300 or 400 of ivory, induced them to return. It i 

 probable that they intended to expel the Portu- 

 guese by force, as the governor-general of Senegal 

 provided a body of troops, and in March 1700 ap- 

 peared before the settlement with seven ships of war. 

 The Portuguese Hot being in a state to make oppo- 

 sition, the French, with the permission of the native 

 chiefs, established a factory, and, by their enterprize 

 and activity, soon engrossed the whole trade. Iu 

 consequence of this change of circumstances, the 

 Portuguese demolished their buildings, and abandon- 

 ed the island. Their absence, however, does not ap- 

 pear to have been long : They returned, and construct- 

 ed a large regular square fort, with four bastions, on 

 which are now mounted nearly 50 guns, and it con- 

 tains a garrison of about 300 or 400 soldiers. The 

 traffic increased, and they sent no less than 2000 slaves 

 yearly to Brazil, besides carrying on a trade with 

 Europe. Most of these slaves were purchased from 

 8z 



