Angola

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) a name formerly given to the west African coast from Cape Lopez to Benguela, but now applied to the Portuguese west African possessions, extending from the Kongo river southward to the Cunene, which, at its mouth, notes the boundary between the Portuguese and former German territories. This region is divided into 9 districts. Capital, St. Paul de Loanda. Portuguese influence extends some 1,500 miles inland. The area is estimated at almost 500,000 square miles. Estimates of the population vary from 2,200,000 to 4,200,000. There are over 800 miles of railroads. The coast strip is level, hot and unhealthy, but beyond is hilly country. The main rivers are the Kwango running N. to the Kongo, and the Coanza and Cunene, running W. to the Atlantic. The country is well watered, and has a luxuriant vegetation of the tropical African type. Yams, tobacco, indigo, rice, cotton, and sugar are freely produced. Wax, Buffalo hides, es, ivory, copal gum, and palm oil are exported. Iron is found in the mountains; and copper, lead, sulphur, and petroleum are obtained. Horses and camels cannot live here; the ox is ridden, but the burden-bearers are usually men. Angola was long notorious for its great slave trade. The natives are Kongo negroes, and belong to the great Bantu stock. The Portuguese under Diego Cam discovered this coast, in 1486, and soon began to settle in it; but St. Paul de 13-Vol. I-Cyc Loanda was not built till 1578. In the course of the war of 1914-1918, the British in their west African campaign forced the Germans to seek refuge in Angola, where they were interned.