X. Portuguese firit explored the African coaft. CHA P. any other modern European nation; but from an ungenerous reserve on the part of their government, or from fome other cause unknown to me, they have been so sparing in their communications, that I cannot pretend to describe their colonies with that certainty and precision which I wish*. Among other causes of confusion, unsettled orthography is not the least. For example in the kingdom of Congo, we meet with Congo, Kakongo, Cango, Cpango, names in the application of which geographers do not seem to be agreed. Thus much, however, is certain, that the Portuguese posses. fions in Africa are far more important than those of any other European nation; and that in the hands of an active people, they could not fail to become the fources of immense power and opulence. 201. Portuguese Africa, as it may not improperly be called, extends on the west from about 5 deg. of north lat. to 10, fome fay 15 deg. fouth. Here, instead of being cooped up within the narrow limits of trading factories, as they are on other parts of the western coast, they are settled in colonies, under a regular government, and have built several large and well fortified towns. The foil, which is rich and well watered, they have, in several places, taught the natives to cultivate; for this kind of inftruction forms no confiderable part of the policy of the Portuguese clergy, who have taken * I have the fatisfaction of informing the reader, that fince the above was written, the following sketch has had the advantage of being reviewed, and corrected in a few places, by Colonel Bolts, a gentleman whofe knowledge of the eastern parts of Africa is allowed by thofe who have the honour of his acquaintance, to be very extenfive. Having spent many years in the eastern parts of the world, he published in 1772, "Confiderations on India affairs," in three vols. 4to; and, I believe, he has it now in contemplation to lay also before the public the refult of his perfonal and acquired knowledge of the Eaft of Africa, not only of the coast, but of the inland country. fo fo much pains to convert the natives, that it is thought they have been the means of making many of them better christians than themselves. Thus much at least appears, that the religion these fathers have taught the natives has contributed to soften their manners, if not to mend their morals, (See § 36, et feq. and § 146). As a proof of this, we are assured, that in many parts of this country, they are cloathed in the European fashion, to which they are fo habituated that, even were the Portuguese to leave the country, they would not foon abandon it. 202. Awerri, though in the kingdom of Benin, is fubject Awerri. to the government of the Portuguefe, who have here a caftle and a garrison; also a church and a monastery. It is worthy of remark, that though the river of Benin is very fatal to the English and Dutch feamen who frequent it, yet the Portuguese, who dwell farther within the country, do not experience any peculiar infalubrity of climate. This is one instance, among many, which might be adduced, to make it probable, that the interior of almost all of the western parts of Africa is more healthful than the coaft. (See § 76, and 80.) 203. Angola was first discovered by the Portuguese in Angola, 1484. They afterwards conquered several of it's provinces, and rendered the native king tributary for the reft, as his fucceffors have fince continued. Their acquifitions may extend 240 leagues along the coast, and, in fome places, 100 within the land. The capital is St. Paul de Loanda, which has a good harbour. It is the feat of the government, and, every three years, receives a new governor from Portugal. The country has been cleared, drained and cultivated in fo many places, as to improve it's climate very confiderably. Some years ago, a number of people from Biscay were sent out to work the excellent iron mines in Angola; but they mifcarried, X. CHA P. carried, for want of proper fupport. The Portuguese in Angola, are faid to be able, at any time, to bring into the field 3000 well armed men, of their own nation. Their power is chiefly situated in the interior parts; for the trade of the coast of Angola, &c. has always been open; and thither the French, English and Dutch send yearly a confiderable number of ships for flaves, &c. Congo. Loango and Benguela. 204. In 1484, Congo was discovered by Diego Cam, who, in behalf of his fovereign, King John of Portugal, formed an alliance, with the King of Congo, which has continued to the present day, with fome interruptions, on the part of the Portuguese. Their chief town, St. Salvadore, is fituated 150 miles up the river Congo, or Zaire, upon an eminence, in a country well cultivated and most uncommonly falubrious. (See § 76.) It is a very extensive place, but not proportionably populous, as the houses are intermixed with spacious gardens, which, doubtlefs, is one caufe of it's falubrity. Yet it's inhabitants must be very numerous, as it is faid to have twelve churches and seven chapels, besides the cathedral. 205. Of these countries I do not find any thing particular, except that Benguela is very unhealthful. They are under the power or influence of the Portuguese; and, I believe, are generally included in descriptions of Congo and Angola.-In the interior parts of these last countries, it appears that the Portuguese have many prefidios, or garrisons, who, with the affiftance of the natives, have cleared and cultivated the land in their respective vicinities, raising maize, calavances, yams, bananas and other provifions and fruits. 206. Many of the Portuguese at Loando, Colombo, St. Salvadore and other places in this part of Africa are exceedingly rich. It is common for a Portuguese to poffefs 50, 100 and X. 200 flaves, and fome of the more opulent are the mafters CHA P. even of 3000. A religious fociety, at Loando are the proprietors of no fewer than 12,000 flaves, who being blackfmiths, joiners, turners, ftone-cutters, &c. earn, by their work, from 4 to 500 rees per day, for the fociety.-How far this fort of revenue is compatible with the intention of such an institution, it is not my present business to enquire. 207. In Congo, christianity was preached soon after the Miffionaries. arrival of the Portuguese; and missionaries are still well received there. Encouragements have been offered at different times, particularly in the beginning of the present reign, to the religious in the convents of Portugal, to labour in the converfion of the natives of Congo, Angola, and their other African poffeffions. Many missionaries have accordingly undertaken this pious work, at different times. Their fuccefs appears to have been confiderable, and, had they been steadily supported, there is reason to believe it would have been compleat. Many Portuguese bishops refide in this part of Africa, and numbers of the natives have been regularly ordained priests. flave-trade. 208. To the farther credit of that nation, it ought to be Portuguese noted, that they carry on the flave-trade from the countries just mentioned, with as much humanity as it is poffible to unite with such a traffic. Great numbers of flaves who come from the remote inland countries, are shipped from Congo, Angola, &c. None, however, who belong to these laft countries, are fent as flaves to the Brazils, except black convicts; and even these, before they are put on board, are catechised and receive baptism, a rite which has been found to confole their minds under their unhappy circumstances. The Portuguese flave-ships are never over crowded, and the failors are chiefly blacks, called Negros Ladinos, who speak S X. CHA P. fpeak their language, and whose business it is to comfort. and attend the poor people on the voyage. The confequences are, that they have little or no occafion for fetters, fo conftantly used in the other European flave-ships, and that they perform their voyages from Angola, &c. to Brazil with very little mortality. Portuguefe colonies on the Eart of Africa. St. Martin, Sofala. 209. So vast are the territories poffeffed by, or tributary to, the Portuguese on the east of Africa, that they may, or might have been said to be masters of a great part of that whole coast. They are never interrupted there by any other European nation, except occafionally by ships in dif trefs, on their return from India; for, in going out, they fteer quite another course*. 210. The Portuguefe poffeffions on the Eaft of Africa begin about 25° fouth latitude, according to Poftlethwayt. Here they trade for ivory and gold, and they abound fo much with cattle, that they yearly furnish numbers to the Dutch at the Cape of Good Hope. St. Martin and Puado are two islands in the River Cumana, where the Portuguese and the natives plant provifions for the shipping, and whence they have some trade with the inland negroes. 211. The kingdom of Sofala extends about 30 leagues along the coast, and about 80 up the country. It is, or was governed by a Mahometan prince, tributary to the King of * The Portuguese, however, do not appear entirely to exclude other nations from a participation in fome parts of the trade of the eastern parts of Africa, For, when I was at Havre de Grace in 1787, fome flave-merchants in that city were sending a few fhips to Mofambique for flaves. They told me, that, although, in the long, cold and ftormy voyage round the Cape of Good Hope, many more of the flaves died, than even in the paffage from the coast of Guinea to the Weft Indies; yet that their cheapness at Mofambique fully compenfated for their increased mortality. So cooly do merchants talk of facrificing the lives of mankind, at the Shrine of the "Mammon of unrighteoufnefs!!" Portugal. |