The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell, of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining RegionsBattell, Andrew
History
The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell, of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining Regions
Battell, Andrew
Angola -- Discovery and exploration; Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Discovery and exploration
Meanwhile the Dutch had made preparations for an advance up the Kwanza.
They had built Fort Mols at the mouth of the river, and another fort
higher up. The Governor, Francisco de Sotto-maior, having died of fever
in May, 1646, measures for a spirited defence were taken by the three
captains-major, Bartholomeu de Vasconcellos da Cunha, Antonio Teixeira
de Mendonça, and João Juzarte de Andrada. Muchima, which had been
furiously assaulted by the Dutch, was relieved by Diogo Gomes de
Morales. But in the following year the Portuguese suffered a reverse at
Kawala (Caoalla), and Masanganu itself was threatened by the combined
forces of Queen Nzinga, Kongo, and the Dutch.
However a saviour was at hand in this extremity. On August 12th, 1648,
Salvador Corrêa de Sá Benevides,[489] with nineteen vessels, having on
board nine hundred soldiers, cast anchor in the harbour of Luandu, and
summoned the Dutch to surrender within forty-eight hours. On their
refusal he landed his troops, and after a short bombardment of Fort S.
Miguel, to which the Dutch had withdrawn, early on August 15th he
delivered an assault, which cost him one hundred and sixty three men,
but led to the surrender of a garrison numbering one thousand one
hundred men, including French and German mercenaries. When these
prisoners had been joined by the three hundred Dutchmen who were with
Queen Nzinga, and the garrison of Benguella, which surrendered without a
blow, they were shipped off to Europe. The city, in memory of the event,
assumed the name of “S. Paulo da Assumpção de Loanda,” for it was on the
Day of Ascension of the Virgin Mary that a seven years’ captivity ended.
The anniversary of that event is celebrated to the present day by a
religious procession.
RESTORATION OF PORTUGUESE AUTHORITY.
No time was lost in restoring the authority of Portugal throughout the
colony. The King of Kongo was compelled to accept a treaty by which
Luandu Island and the whole of the country to the south of the Dande
river were unconditionally surrendered, and other advantages held out
(p. 128). Queen Nzinga, although she declined the overtures of Captain
Ruy Pegado[490] for a formal treaty, retired inland, and gave no trouble
for a number of years. As to the sobas of Lamba, Kisama, Lubolo, and the
Modiku islands, they were visited by punitive expeditions commanded by
Antonio Teixeira de Moraes, Diogo Mendes de Morales, Vicente Pegado de
Pontes, and Francisco de Aguiar.
Order having been restored, the Governor, Salvador Corrêa de Sá, caused
the ruined buildings to be repaired, and granted crownland to the
inhabitants for houses and gardens. In a very short time prosperity
returned, and the trade of Luandu was as flourishing as ever it had
been.[491]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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