ACCOUîîT OF -^VLAM- 
easy of access, and might be cultiyated witliout much trouble; 
their summits are covered with trees ; and rivers, which ahvays 
contain plenty of water, issue from them, and fertilize the whole 
of the country. It is doubtless to this irrigation that the soil iy 
indebted for its fecundity. Palm-trees of every kind, as well as 
all those which are indigenous in hot climates, are most abundant. 
The southern quarter is a natural meadow, in which are herds 
of oxen and wild horses; the former of a very large size, but 
the latter smaller than ordinary. 
In every part of the island may be found a prodigious number 
of stags, hinds, goats, buffaloes, and elephants; while tigers, 
lions, and wolves do not infest this charming retreat. Game and 
smaller birds breed undisturbed, and are seen in vast flocks all 
over the island. The shores afford plenty of fish, and amongst 
them great numbers of turtle ; in short, it produces in abundance 
all the necessaries of life: it is, however, uninhabited, and has 
been so ever since the Bissagos expelled the Biafares, to who^n 
it belonged, and banished them to the continent. This was the 
termination of a sanguinary war, in which the Biafares being over- 
come, were either dispersed, or made slaves, or sold. 
The conquerors did not think proper to establish themselves 
on the teriitpry which they had acquired; but they repair thither 
every year, to the number of three or four hundred, in the months 
of February, March, April, and May, and plant fields of rice, 
niillet, and other pulse. After their harvest, which is always plen- 
tiful, tliey return to their own country. 
From the know n richness of the soil it would doubtlessly pro- 
duce, without much trouble, sugar, coffee, cocoa, indigo, cot- 
ton_; tobacco, and in general all the productions of America. 
The labour might be performed by slaves purchased on the spot, 
or hired at the rate of three or four bars for each man per 
month : the bar is a nominal coin of Africa, valued at four 
livres sixteen sous, about 3s. 8d. English, and costs in Eu- 
rope little more than half that sum. These slaves would in 
time have a liking for the island, might become free, purchase 
land, and linally be civilized. The navy of that country which 
jîiight first form the establishment would also derive great ad- 
vantages: the expeditions of Europeans in this part of the world 
have had commerce exclusively for their object, and the culti- 
vation of land or the building of ships has never been thought 
of; though in the isle of Bulam almost every thing requisite for 
this important object might be obtained. The Portuguese who 
are naturalized in this part of Africa, employ the large trees 
which grow at Bulam and the neighbouring islands, for making ' 
their boats. There is one species, called micheiryy of which they 
construct their decks ; it is easy to work, and is never perforated 
I 2 
