ACCOUNT OF THjG BlSSA^X. 
Si 
"M. Brue in consequence resolved to go himself to tîie island 
with forces capable of overawing both the Portuguese and the. 
negroes; and in March 1700, he came to anchor before the 
Portuguese fort, at the point of Bernafel wiîh seven ships of 
war. The Portuguese governor wished to prevent the French 
from landhig ; but the menacing attitudes of the French vessels, 
50on induced him to come to an understanding with them; 
and M. Brue demanded an audience of the king of the island, 
M'hach was granted him. The king received him in the most 
hr.nible manner, and sacrificed an ox to him, dipping his fingers 
in the bk^od, and touching with thetn the hand of M. Brtie^ a 
ceremony, which amongst these people is considered as a mark 
of eternal alliance. The result was was^ thai he gave him leave 
to establish a factory or houses in any part of his dominions, and • 
even offered to acconnnodate him with his own places of resi<- 
dence till the French estabhshments should be built. 
Thus the French regained their footing u|K)n the Bissaux; 
and M. Brue, after leaving a guard, a factor, and odier officers 
on the island, returned to Goree and Senegal in April 1700. 
The isle of the Bissaux is from thirty-live to forty leagues in 
circumference: its appearance is agreeable, and its soil rises 
insensibly as far as the centre, where summits of moun- 
tains are found which are level, and from which issue sevcnii 
i?prings that fertilize the country. The ground is throughout 
planted with trees which form the most delightful and refreshing 
arbours; and we everywhere meet with orange-trees of a size 
and height, wliich are truly astonishing^ as well as lemon-trees, 
cheese-trees^ and banians. The soil is deep, fat, and extremely 
fertile ; it produces abundance of rice, and two kinds of millet, 
the straw of which receives so much nutriment^ that it resem- 
bles young trees. They also have good harvests of a small 
grain similar to the millet, which is uncommonly white, and 
with the flower of which they make a thick soup or porridge, 
which the negroes eat, after dissolving in it a quantity of butter 
or fat. The Portuguese have planted manioc in these parts, 
which grows well and affords excellent flour. The Negroes, 
who are naturally idle, eat it after roasting it on their embers. 
Palm-wine is the general drink in this country. Oxen here are 
of an uncommonly large size, and the cows as well as short- 
legged goats are very fat, and give abundance of milk. There 
are, however, neither sheep, hogs, nor horses: the labours of 
the last mentioned animals are performed by the cows, who 
carry easily, and naturally go at a jog-trot. A hole is made in 
the cartilage of the nostrils, through which a cord is passed, and 
this serves for a bridle, b} which they are governed without 
trouble. 
