254 Antonio CarreñaTrafficking began here very early (1482-85), but the Portuguese were so
obsessed with the idea of gold that they failed to develop the slave trade. Sub-
sequently, the problems arising from the conflict of interests between the British,
Dutch and others led to a climate of instability and the decline of the Portuguese
slave trade. The figures compiled relate to the period 1726-1806 when 470,694
adults and 169 children were shipped through Cotonou, Popo, Lomé, Badagri
and other ports. In the nineteenth century only 62,786 adults were shipped
(giving a total of 533,480 adults and 169 children). We do not know the rele-
vant figures of the trade carried on by the British, Dutch and others.
Most of the slaves were sent to Babia, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro,
Para and Maranhäo (with smaller consignments going to Para and Maranhäo
than to the other States).Third SectorFrom Cape Lopo Goncalves (more specifically from Loango) to the
Coporolo River (to the south of Benguela) including Luanda and Benguela,
the most prominent slave-trade area.
Most of the available figures relate to this sector, particularly the area
between the Dande Straits (to the north of Luanda) and the Coporolo River,
which came under the jurisdiction of the Luanda and Benguela customs
inspectorates. The entire sector to the north—from Luanda to Loango—was
practically always outside the control of the Portuguese authorities. It was
dominated by more powerful nations with a greater interest in the slave trade.
Few, if any, figures are available for this area. Even so, we may say that, overall,
Angola was the sector where the 'hunt for the African' was carried on with the
greatest intensity.
According to the records of the Feitorias of Luanda, 79,052 adults were
shipped to Brazil or the Spanish West Indies in the years 1575-91. It is also
estimated that another 847,848 adults were shipped to these destinations,
making a total of 927,000 for the period in question.
In the eighteenth century (from 1726 onwards, although figures are
missing for certain years), 943,182 adults and 17,788 children (including infants)
were exported to the above destinations. These figures are taken from the
customs records, governors' reports and official correspondence. In the nine-
teenth century, during the period when the slave trade was still legal (1800-36),
494,529 adults and 263 children were dispatched (giving an annual average
of 17,691). Between 1837 and 1850 when slave traffic went on illegally, a further
623,214 adults (an annual average of 51,934) were shipped, that is 20.7 per
cent of those transported during the period of legal slave trading.
From the three sectors, 3,929,749 adults and 18,292 children were shipped
(making a total of 3,948,041). However, if we accept, as a working hypothesis