with a brief notice of the neighbouring tribes, soil, productions, &c. and some observations on the facility of Colonizing that part of Africa, with a View to Cultivation; and the introduction of letters and religion to its inhabitants: but more particularly as the means of gradually abolishing African Slavery relative to an attempt to establish a British Settlement on the Island of Bulama, on the Western Coast of Africa, in the year 1792
with a brief notice of the neighbouring tribes, soil, productions, &c. and some observations on the facility of Colonizing that part of Africa, with a View to Cultivation; and the introduction of letters and religion to its inhabitants: but more particularly as the means of gradually abolishing African Slavery relative to an attempt to establish a British Settlement on the Island of Bulama, on the Western Coast of Africa, in the year 1792
341 African Memoranda. Of the Island of Buiama ; its Produce—Animals—Climate. At the bottom, or east end, of that immense harbour formed Buiama; its by continental islands on the north, and the Bijuga Archipelago* on the south, and at the mouth of the Rio Grande, in the 11th degree of north latitude, is the island of Buiama. A small island, at its north-east point, is separated from the Biafara shore, by a narrow branch of the sea, not exceeding 200 yards, and the channel between this small island and Buiama aftords a passage for boats at half tide, but not at low water ; the whole east side of the island forms, with the Biafara shore, a remark ably fine harbour of about two miles in width, with water in every part of it for the largest ships, within a cable’s length of the beach ; and in all places a good clear bottom ; its S. E. side confines the waters of the Rio Grande, whose embouchure is considered to be between the south point of this island, and Tombaly point on the Naloo coast; the west side of the island is separated from that of Galenas on the eastern edge of the Bijuga cluster, by a good broad channel with very deep water; the north side is bordered by extensive shoals which extend all the way to the island of Areas. This island, I conceive f to be Extent. * I am aware of the real etymology of this word, but custom will justify my making use of it in its present acceptation. + Having been 17 months on the island of Buiama it may appear strange that I do not speak more positively as to the extent of this island, but the truth is, that except