Africa . PORTUGUESE WEST AFRICA. 455 its possession has been the subject of debate between theBritish and Portuguese Governments at various times since1845. The Portuguese base their rights to it on theclaims of priority of discovery in the reign of King Don JoaoII., 1481 to 1495 ; on actual possession begun at varioustimes, though always interrupted by considerations of aneconomical or political nature; and on the intention, con-stantly manifested by word and act, of maintaining thesovereignty of the territory included within the limitsabove given. It is impossible to define the eastern limit

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Africa . PORTUGUESE WEST AFRICA. 455 its possession has been the subject of debate between theBritish and Portuguese Governments at various times since1845. The Portuguese base their rights to it on theclaims of priority of discovery in the reign of King Don JoaoII., 1481 to 1495 ; on actual possession begun at varioustimes, though always interrupted by considerations of aneconomical or political nature; and on the intention, con-stantly manifested by word and act, of maintaining thesovereignty of the territory included within the limitsabove given. It is impossible to define the eastern limits of thiswestern Portuguese territory. For Angola alone a cleareastern frontier line may be found in the Coango, a pro-bable tributary of the Congo, though its upper course alonehas been hitherto explored. Cassange, the most advancedPortuguese station in the interior, is itself not far distantfrom the frontiers of the little-known country of Muata-Yanvo, on the Kasai or Kassabi. As might be expected, the

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Keywords: ., bookauthorkeaneaha, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1878