PHYSICAL CHARACTERS. 
297 
from the number of persons who speak a little Spanish 
or Portuguese. 
Although the language of Bimbia closely resembles 
the Dualla or Oameroons, the physical characters of the 
people are somewhat different; the Bimbians being 
for the most part small in stature, but muscular. 
The hands and feet are lai'ge; the lower jaw is pro- 
gnathous or protruding ; the eyes are bright, but full 
of cunning and avarice; and the countenance gene- 
rally expressive of bad feelings, which subsequent 
inquiries into their dispositions confirmed. The mode 
of filing the teeth very much down, leaving a wide 
space between, so as to have them long and sharp, 
adds not a little to their disagreeable looks, and is apt 
to raise unpleasant suspicions as to cannibal propen- 
sities. Many of them have squares tatooed over the 
abdomen, resembling the scarifications of cupping, and 
others have triangular marks in the temples, not 
unlike the Krus, with whom they seem rather anxious 
to fraternize. 
Their religious superstitions are much the same as 
in other parts of the coast, and said also to be accom- 
panied with human sacrifices. On the demise of a 
chief or any great man, more or less of the property 
is left in the house, which is abandoned and allowed 
after an interval to go to decay. We saw in the 
deserted hut reported to have been occupied by the 
late chief, a number of utensils and earthenware articles. 
