CHAP. IX. 
OF THE ISLES OF LOS OR IDOLES. ACCOU>ÎTS OF CER- 
TAIN ANIMALS. THE CROCODILE OR CAYMAN. THE 
ELEPHANT. THE RIVER-HORSE. TAMED CROCODILES. 
— SINGULAR ANECDOTE OF AN ELEPHANT. A PARTI- 
CULAR ACCOUNT OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 
About forty leagues to the south of Bissagos, in îat. 9° 27' 
long. 1 40' you arrive at the islands of De Los or Idoles : they 
are seven in number, but only three of thern are inhabited. The 
four others are properly nothing but rocks. On the easternmost 
of these isles is an English factory. Their isolation from the 
continent, and the elevation of their soil, render them as healthy 
as they are agreeable ; the natives call them Sarotima, that is, 
the land of the white man:" we knew them formerly under the 
name of Tamara. 
About sixty years ago these islands were only inhabited by a 
single family, called Bagos; at present they are overloaded with a 
mixture of Bagos, and the fugitive slaves of the Suzees and the 
Mandingos. 
The three isles which are inhabited, are called Tamara, Los, 
and CrafFord. Tamara, the greatest and most westerly, is almost 
semicircular ; its shore rises in an amphitheatrical form to such a 
height, as to be seen twelve leagues at sea. It produces line 
trees, which are lit for building : its surface is not properly 
known, and ships prefer anchoring at the isle of Los. Hie chief 
of this isle is called William; he has his village on the low point, 
which forms a plain about a quarter of a league long, by half a 
quarter wide. He has always wished for the French to establish 
themselves there; but the anchorage is not sufficiently convenient, 
as all goods, &c. are obliged to be landed in canoes or by similar 
means. 
Los is the most eastern island : it is a league long, and it is 
necessary to pass the south end in order to anchor off it. .All 
dangers can be foreseen in this part ; which is not the case at the 
north-east point, as it runs under water to the extent of a quarter 
of a league. 
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