Benguella, Angola
Benguella (São Felipe de Benguella), is a town in
Angola, capital of Benguella district, on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E. Benguella was founded in 1617 by the
Portuguese under Manoel Cerveira Pereira. It was long the centre of an important trade, especially in
slaves to
Brazil and
Cuba. The anchorage lies about a mile from the town, in 4 to 6 fathoms. Besides the churches of S. Felipe and S. Antonio, the hospital, and the fortress, there are (as of 1911) only a few stone-built houses. A short way beyond Benguella is Bahia Tarta, where salt is manufactured and sulphur excavated.
Adapted from original in 1911 Britannica; please update as needed.