a group of small, low, fertile islands, situated at or near the mouth of the Rio Grande, in Western Africa. The entire number of these islands is very great, but there are only sixteen of any considerable magnitude. These are, Bissau, Bulama, Jate, Busi, Manterre, Canabac, Galpineis, Arcas, Formosa, Carache, Corbeille, Genthera, Cavallo, Mel, Casegu, and Cove. The first five are mere alluvial islands, separated by river-branches from the continent, of which they properly form part. The others lie twenty or thirty miles out at sea, extending in a north-westerly direction towards the Gambia. Among the many smaller islands may be mentioned Bourbon, Sarceri, Poelon, Papaygo, and Los Porceos. Along the exterior side of these islands, where they face the ocean, extend numerous banks, which render the navigation very dangerous.

These islands produce abundantly millet, rice, and fruits, and are all well stocked with a peculiar breed of oxen with a hump on the back, and remarkable for size and strength. The inhabitants, who are tall and robust, are fierce and warlike. This character applies to the Papels, who occupy Bissao and the adjoining continent, and still more to the Bissagos or Bijugas, who possess most of the remaining islands. They have almost entirely driven out the Biasiras, a mild and industrious race, who have been obliged to seek refuge on the continent along the banks of the Rio Grande. In 1792 some English adventurers formed the Bulama association, with the view of forming a settlement on the island of that name; and on the 11th April three vessels with 275 colonists sailed for Africa, under the command of Mr Dalrymple. They sailed to Bulama, and were quietly taking possession of the island, when the Bissagos from Canabac attacked the party, and killed several of their number. Mr Dalrymple then retired to Bissao, and induced the king of Canabac, for a trifling consideration, to cede to Great Britain the island of Bulama. A settlement was then effected; but finding that, instead of being placed in a situation of ease and luxury, they were obliged to cultivate the soil, the colonists lost courage, and most of them returned home in the vessel which brought them to Bulama, Captain Beaver being now left with little more than twenty men, and only half of these effective, was attacked by the king of Canabac. The enemy was gallantly beaten off; but the difficulties and distresses of the colony continuing to increase, Beaver took the first opportunity of conveying the remnant of his colony to Sierra Leone.