EXPEDITION TO BULAMA. QBS 
the Canabacs, that they departed without any 
act of hostility. The panic excited by this visit 
did not, however, subside at their departure ; and 
Mr Beaver was deserted by all the grumettas ex- 
cept two, who were sent to Bissao for a reinforce- 
ment, and by one of the only surviving colonists 
w^hom sickness permitted to move. When they 
left Bulama, there remained only one man fit for 
duty, and seven that were sick ; so that, while 
another visit of the Bissagoes was hourly expect- 
ed, the whole colony were hardly able to dig a 
grave. Before the return of the Canabacs, Mr 
Beaver had been reinforced by grumettas, and 
afterwards a much stronger party were deterred 
from venturing upon hostilities, by the arrival of 
a British sloop of war in the offing. Till the 
blockhouse was completed, self-preserv^ation had 
obliged the colonists to work on the Sabbath, 
but, from that period, the irregularity was dis- 
continued, and Mr Beaver read prayers at the 
usual time, and instructed them in the use of ar- 
tillery and small arms in the evening. The Bia- 
faras and Papels, as well as the Portuguese of 
Bissao, had always exhibited the most friendly 
dispositions. The Biafaras solicited Mr Beaver 
to form a settlement at Ghinala, and also at Bu- 
lola, seventy miles up the Rio Grande ; and the 
king of the Papels had sent a message to the first 
colonial vessels who arrived at Bissao, to induce 
