IRÈACHERY OF THE VALANTES, 
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For if they shew either weakness or pity, they are lost. Not 
only the captain^ but iione of the crew ought ever to go on shore, 
for they would thereby rashiy expose themselves to slavery or 
loss of life ; and in the former case their ransom would cost more 
than the entire can2;o of the ship. 
About twenty-eight years ago, a French vessel arrived at the 
Bissagos for the purpose of trading ; but running aground off 
one of the isles, part of the crew were massacred, and the rest 
made slaves. Amongst the latter, was a man named Constan- 
tine, whom M. de Lajaiile, who was employed to reconnoitre 
this arcliipelago, found at the Bissaux in 1785, and from whom 
he received some particulars of the country. 
On the Slst December, in that year, M. de Lajaille cast an- 
chor before the isle of Jatte, and disembarked in his canoe, fol- 
lowed by four aroied boats ; he first met with five or six negroes 
who were watching cattle on the strand. Soon afterwards about 
100 unarmed inhabitants came forward, and advancing to M. de 
Lajailie, several of them took hold of his hand as a token of 
friendship. They were followed by a much greater number of 
the islanders who were not perceived by the cre\v, and who issued 
out from the bushes. They suddenly attacked him, seized him 
by the body and limbs, and endeavoured to confine him ; but 
being a powerful man, he disengaged himself, and the boats, by 
firing amongst the assailants, favoured his re-embarkation. M- 
de Carbonneau, however, who came to his assistance, was 
"Wounded by a musket and a sabre ; in consequence of which he 
died six days after. These events afi'ord a recent proof of the 
ferocious character of the people who inhabit several of the 
islands in this archipelago, and of the contempt in which they 
ought to be held. Notwithstanding all these difficulties, and the 
risks with which they are attended, we do not hesitate to trade 
with them ; and in exchange for slaves, ivory, wax, gold, and 
other articles, which they procure for us, we bring them yellow 
amber, baize, and serges made to imitate cloth, or dyed of two dif- 
ferent colours, one on each side. We also convey to them a 
quantity of brandy, bells, red and yellow woollens, linen, glass 
work, fowling-pieces, powder, &c. This commerce, however^ 
is very confined ; but it might be carried on to a great extent if 
a number of ships were to proceed together on such a specu- 
lation. 
