BIJUGA, or BISSAGOS ISLANDS. The western coast of Africa, between the River Gambia and the Rio Grande, consists of a chain of low fertile islands, separated from each other, and also from the conti nent, by narrow navigable canals, in consequence of the sea encircling them. To the south-west of these islands is an archipelago, consisting of 18 or 20 is lands, stretching above 40 leagues from north-west south-east, called the.Bijuga Islands, bounded on the one side by immense shoals, which, being little known, are frequently fatal to navigators ; and on the inside by a channel, about five leagues in width, called the Bijuga channel. Neither the exact limits of these islands, however, nor their number, are definitely as certained ; but thirteen are said to be inhabited. We are disposed to consider them a separate and distinct groupe from those on the north-east side of the chan nel, though other geographers rank the latter with them.
The Bijuga is deep, and is fit for the na vigation of the largest vessels ; it stretches nearly 50 leagues in length, and terminates with the island Bu lama. The islands gradually rise from the shore to wards the interior ; none are• above six leagues in length, nor any where appear to be above 40 feet high er than the level of the sea. Some navigators consider them of volcanic origin ; others think that they arc. alluvial, and that they have been formed, in the course of time, by the deposit of the Rio Grande and the neighbouring streams, on extensive sand banks which serve for their base. The Bijuga islands are rich and fertile, abounding•in all the necessaries of life, beautiful, and well wooded, whence they have long been recommended as Suitable for European set tlements. Warang, also called Formosa, Cazegoot, Canahac, Bulama, Carashe, and Suoga, Which was peopled but lately, are those of principal note. The three immediately north-west of the channel, Jatte, Bassis, and Bissao, have usually been added to their number, though, as we have said, we think they should be separated from them. Sec BINSAO.
The people inhabiting the Bijuga islands are said to be originally Papels, a tribe still dwelling on the continent : they are above the middle size, muscular, bony, well proportioned, and have the appearance of great strength and activity. Their noses are flatter, and their lips thinner, than those of the neighbouring tribes ; their teeth, which they sometimes file to a sharp point like a saw, are good ; and their hair is woolly. They cut their hair into many fantastic forms, and always dress it with red ochre and palm oil. They wear little clothing ; a scanty girdle, and, in the colder season, a goat's skin thrown over the shoulders of the men, being their only covering : That of the women is equally simple, consisting of a girdle, six inches deep, of the shred of the palm • leaves, which forms a thick fringe.
The Bijugas are a brave and Warlike race ; they arc never at peace with the surrounding nations ; and their chiefs, being endowed with uncommon in trcpidity, are always to be dreaded. Captain Bea
ver describes one of their kings, with whom he had intercourse while on the island of Bulama. " Bell chore is the dread of the neighbouring people, and is reckoned the greatest warrior that the Bijuga nation ever produced. He still boasts of having set fire to the town of Bissao, notwithstanding its strong fort and numerous garrison; to others be will proba bly boast of his triumph over us at the western point of Bulama. He is old, hut upright and active, and stands full six feet high ; his large black eyes, the fire of which seventy rains have not yet extinguished, are the most penetrating I ever beheld ; his nose is large and projecting ; his teeth regular and white ;• his limbs arc well proportioned ; his understanding is clear and acute ; and in body and mind he stands pre eminent among his countrymen. But his courage, his policy, his restless activity, his daring enterprizcs, and his love of war, which have rendered him the ad miration of his own countrymen, have procured him, at the same time, the hatred and detestation of. all those nations that lie within the reach of his lawless expeditions." Only a few days of the year are de voted by the Bijugas to their rude agriculture, in preparing the ground for rice • all the rest are occu pied in war and hunting. Their arms arc a long buccaneer gun, a spear, and a Solingen sword about four feet in length, and literally as Sharp as a razor ; while in the left hand is carried a round convex shield, formed of witheys interlaced, covered with the hide of a buffalo. The Bijugas perfectly understand the use of arms, and pride themselves in keeping them in the most perfect order. Captain Beaver relates, that their aim is so sure that they seldom miss their ob ject, and that he had seen a spear, from the distance of twenty yards, strike a reed about ten inches long, and as small as a tobacco pipe ; he likewise witnessed their extreme expertness at the broad sword. In war, af ter discharging their guns kneeling, and throwing them down, they cast their spears, and then have course to the sword. They approach in a squatting posture to the attack, while the shield nearly covers l wholy body, Its convex strength are so well adapted for turning aside the shot of an ene my, that a musket ball will not pierce it. In 1696, the Portuguese took SOO Bijugas into their service, to aid an expedition against the Balautes, another tribe of Africans ; but not anticipating the rainy season about to commence, their arms were rendered unserviceable, and they were defeated with great loss. Their war canoes are of considerable size • fortunate ly for their less enterprising neighbours, they do not understand the use of sails, which is more surprising, as the vessels visiting their islands are provided wits them.