In theThe [[Bijagos Islands]], different islands were populatedinhabited by people ofwith different ethnic origins, leading to great cultural diversity in the archipelago.<ref name="Rodney-1966" />{{rp|24}}{{sfn|Lobban|Mendy|2013|pp=52}} Bijago society was warlike. Men were dedicated to building boats and raiding the mainland, attacking the coastal peoples and other islands. Women cultivated land, constructed houses, and gathered food. They could choose their husbands, generally warriors with the best reputation. Successful warriors could have many wives and boats, and were entitled to one-third of a boat's [[Looting|spoils]] from any expedition.<ref name="Rodney-1966"/>{{rp|204–205}}
Bijago night raids on coastal settlements had a significant impact on the societies attacked. Portuguese traders on the mainland tried to stop the raids,asbecause they hurt the local economy,. but theThe islanders also sold a considerable numbersnumber of slaves to the Europeans, however, who frequently pushed for more captives.<ref name="Rodney-1966" />{{rp|205}} The Bijagos themselves were mostly safe from enslavement, out of the reach of mainland slave traders, were largely safe from enslavement. Portuguese sources say that the children made good slaves but not the adults, who were likely to commit suicide, lead rebellions aboardon slave ships, or escape uponwhen they reachingreached the [[New World]].<ref name="Rodney-1966" />{{rp|218–219}}▼
Bijago society was warlike. Men were dedicated to building boats and raiding the mainland, attacking the coastal peoples as well as other islands. Women cultivated land, constructed houses, and gathered food, and could choose their husbands, generally warriors with the best reputation. Successful warriors could have many wives and boats, and were entitled to one-third of the [[Looting|spoils]] of the boat from any expedition.<ref name="Rodney-1966"/>{{rp|204–205}}
▲Bijago night raids on coastal settlements had significant impact on the societies attacked. Portuguese traders on the mainland tried to stop the raids, as they hurt the local economy, but the islanders also sold considerable numbers of slaves to the Europeans, who frequently pushed for more captives.<ref name="Rodney-1966" />{{rp|205}} The Bijagos themselves were mostly safe from enslavement, out of the reach of mainland slave traders. Portuguese sources say the children made good slaves but not the adults, who were likely to commit suicide, lead rebellions aboard slave ships, or escape upon reaching the [[New World]].<ref name="Rodney-1966" />{{rp|218–219}}
