BALANTES— PAPELS. £75 
nez and the Gambia, is inhabited by numerous 
independent tribes of Nalloes, Biafaras, Bissagoes, 
Balantes, Papels, Banyans, and Feloops, which, 
with a general similarity, exhibit many peculiar- 
ities of language, customs, and manners, while 
the Fouliconda, or towns of the Foulahs, and 
Mauracunda, or towns of the Mandingoes, con- 
tinually interupt and intersect their territories. 
The Biafaras lie chiefly on the northern side of 
the Rio Grande, and possess the districts of Gin- 
hala and Biguba. 
The Balantes, on the banks of the river Geves, 
possess a territory about twelve leagues in length, 
and of the same breadth, which is supposed to 
Contain gold mines. They sometimes trade with 
the neighbouring tribes in rice, maize, poultry, 
oxen, and goats, but never contract marriages 
with them, nor permit them to enter their country. 
They are equally industrious and warlike, and 
never traffic in slaves. 
The Papels are an active and warlike people, 
who possess the island of Bissao and part of the 
adjacent continent. They speak a peculiar lan- 
guage, and have adopted many customs from the 
Portuguese, who have been long settled among 
them. They are reckoned the most skilful rowers 
on the coast, and are generally at war with all 
their neighbours. 
The Banyans, or Bagnons, who are more civi* 
