Angola

Angola a country on the western coast of Africa. It was discovered in 1486 by the Portuguese, who soon after began to form settlements on the river Congo and at various points south of that river. They still have a number of forts and commercial establishments at different places, in some instances extending many hundreds of miles into the interior, where the Portuguese colonists and natives meet for the purpose of trading. The Portuguese claim dominion over a population of about 360,000 souls. Toward the middle of the 16th century the diocese of Angola was established, and a large number of the inhabitants nominally received into the-Roman Catholic Church; but with the decline of the Portuguese, also the hold which the church had of the native population became weaker. A large portion of them, however, are desirous to be regarded as members of the Roman Catholic Church, although in 1857 there were only six priests for all Angola. The Roman Catholic population may be estimated at about 100,000 souls. — Schem, Ecclesiastical Year-book. SEE AFRICA.