3-14 
THE JOLAS, OR BIAFARES. 
Most of them are rich, because they are intelligent and indus- 
trious : the great quantity of cotton grown in their country 
enables them to manufacture much cloth, which they sell to 
their neighbours ; their whole commerce is carried on by the 
Rio Grande, at Bilola, whither they take many slaves. If 
trade, by enriching them, has softened their manners, it has 
deprived them of that masculine courage which is the offspring 
of poverty, for they are said to be cowards. The continual 
incursions which the Papels make upon them, incessantly 
expose them to the loss of the property they have acquired by 
their industry, but which they know not how to preserve by 
their valour. 
On ascending the river, we meet with the Mandingos of 
whom I have already treated. 
Such are the nations who trade with Bissao. We cannot 
account for the diversity of language and manners, that 
exists among those contiguous to this settlement, except by 
supposing, that they are the remains of ancient and extensive 
nations, which, flying before the Poulas and the Mandingos, 
sought refuge near the coast, where they were sure of finding 
an asylum from their conquerors. The hatred which they 
still bear to Mahometans, proves, in my opinion, that several 
centuries ago, these people had just reason to dread the 
furious zeal of the followers of the Koran. They never 
travel in each others' territory. Death would await the 
Mahometan among the Pagans: and chains would be the 
