THE WESTERN COAST. 
engaged as they presented themselves, without 
discrimination, the greater number of these per- 
sons were unprincipled men, of ruined fortunes and 
characters, or, as they are described by Mr Beaver, 
" drunken, lazy, dishonest, impatient, cowards/' 
They had embarked in this expedition, without 
having considered either the difficulties or the dan- 
gers which they had to encounter ; without having 
reflected upon the difference of the situation in 
which they were to be placed, from that to which 
they had been accustomed. The views of the sub- 
scribers were partly agricultural, and partly com- 
mercial. The majority proposed to cultivate cot- 
ton, sugar, coffee, tobacco, and indigo, while others 
expected to establish a lucrative commerce with the 
natives in ivory, wax, and the other productions of 
Africa. Some authors affirm, that hope is never 
so sanguine as when it is without foundation ; but 
whatever expectations were entertained by the co- 
lonists before their arrival in Africa, it is certain 
that these were very soon dissipated. The vessel 
which first arrived at Bulam having neglected to 
procure an interpreter, or make any propositions to 
the Bissagoes, the lords of the soil, immediately 
landed a party of men to take possession. The 
Bissagoes of Canabac, who did not clearly compre- 
hend the propriety of this proceeding, surprised 
this party, killed seven men and one woman, and 
-carried off four women and three children. It is 
