European Beginnings in West Africa 1454-I578

Abstract

This book does not claim to be any sense comprehensive Survey of the first century of white enterprises in West Africa. It is little more than an introduction to a vast subject, which so far has been practically ignored by most English students. One reason for so remarkable an omission in English colonial studies is, undoubtedly the fact that material for the early story of West Africa is scarce, and one may search far and wide with little result. For one thing, a mass of valuable records was destroyed. When in 1755 a serious earthquake shook Lisbon. Yet those. Who combine patience with a genuine interest in the more elusive problems of the past will find that the Portuguese empire in West Africa during the sixteenth century provides a study as enigmatic as it is fascinating. My own investigations incline me to believe that much relevant evidence untouched and unknown does exist scattered and hidden in various European archives. And anyone. Who cares to ransack the Torre do Tombo at Lisbon will soon be handsomely rewarded The story of white enterprise in Guinea as presented here has been reconstructed mainly from printed sources of information Except (or the Portuguese collections of documents those are generally of only limited value But I have used many MSS. in the British Museum and the Public Record Office, and of those, which I have examined. The records of the High Court of Admiralty have proved most fruitful. Perhaps I should say that. Since writing this little monograph. The Admiralty records have yielded me many new secrets particularly about the organisation of the Portuguese empire in Guinea during the Sixteenth century. And the nature and surprising scope of English traffic to Guinea between 1580 and 1618.