THE WESTERN COAST. 
" That the whites were all dead, or sick, except 
" the captain ; that they were his people whenever 
" he pleased ; that he had put them there, and, 
" whenever he chose, could take them away ; that 
" they were his chidcens," an expression which he 
commonly applied to the Biafaras, to denote the fa- 
cility with which they are made prisoners. Though 
the active force of Mr Beaver at this period only 
amounted to four colonists and six grumettas, his 
activity and vigilance so much disconcerted the 
Can abacs, that they departed without any act of 
hostility. ,The panic excited by this visit did not, 
however, subside at their departure ; and Mr Beaver 
was deserted by all the grumettas except two, who 
were sent to Bissao for a reinforcement, and by 
one of the only surviving colonists whom sickness 
permitted to move. When they left Bulama, there 
remained only one man fit for duty, and seven that 
were sick y so that, while another visit of the Bis- 
sagoes was hourly expected, the whole colony were 
hardly able to dig a grave. Before the return of 
the Canabacs, Mr Beaver had been reinforced by 
grumettas, and afterwards a much stronger party 
were deterred from venturing upon hostilities, by 
the arrival of a British sloop of war in the offing. 
Till the blockhouse was completed, self-preser- 
vation had obliged the colonists to work on the 
Sabbath, but, from that period, the irregularity was 
discontinued, and Mr Beaver read prayers at the 
