Preface
Chapter 1
Fernando Po is an island 46 miles in length and 26 miles in breadth, and is situated in the Gulf of Guinea, 24 miles from the main-land. It consists of a huge mountain adorned with beautiful palms. The peak of this mountain towers over 10,000 feet above the sea level. Its grandeur can hardly be surpassed, especially when the setting sun plays upon the precipitous ravines, the outcome of volcanic outbursts. Lying between 3 and 4 degrees North latitude and 8 and 9 degrees East longitude, its position near the equator accounts for its notorious unhealthiness. The location may be easily remembered by thinking of Africa as being like a gigantic pear, standing on its apex, having a huge angular piece cut out of the West side, and Fernando Po vainly trying to fill up the gap!
A Portuguese discovered the island in 1471 and named it after himself. His countrymen having failed to make anything of it, agreed in 1778 to an exchange by which Spain became the possessor. Owing to the heavy mortality among the Spaniards, in 1827 she ceded the country to the English who used it as an asylum for freed slaves, and as a coaling station. [Continue reading]
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