Portuguese East Africa or Mozambique

In 1752 the government of the East African possessions was again, and this time permanently, separated from that of Goa, and 20 years later Francisco Jose Maria de Lacerda e Almeida, a man of high attainments, made governor of the province at his own request, endeavoured to reform the administration. Lacerda is chiefly remembered for his journey to the heart of Central Africa, where he died in Oct. 1798. After his death a state of decay was again manifest throughout Portuguese East Africa. During the greater part of the r9th century the country south of the Zambezi was devastated by hordes of savages of Zulu origin (see GAZALAND).

Modern Developments.

The discoveries of David Living stone in the period of 2850-65 led to the establishment of Brit ish settlements at the southern end of Lake Nyasa and in the Shire highlands. These events aroused anxiety in Lisbon, which was increased when the British secured Matabele, Mashona and Manica lands—the lands of the earlier monomotapas. With sud den energy the Portuguese engaged in the "scramble for Africa," and they obtained much better terms than might have been antici pated, having regard to the extremely limited area over which they exercised jurisdiction. (The story of the partition is told in the

article AFRICA. ) Under the republic the Portuguese made serious efforts to improve the administration. In 1914 a measure of autonomy, en larged in 1920, was granted to the province. In general the treat ment of the natives was satisfactory, but labour conditions left much to be desired. Compulsory unpaid labour in the province of Mozambique was not abolished until 1925. In 1927 reports were spread that Germany might acquire a mandate under the League of Nations to administer Mozambique or Angola. This led (Dec. 1927) to a reaffirmation of the ancient Anglo-Portuguese alliance which covers the Portuguese colonies. On Sept. II, 1928, at Pretoria, of prolonged negotiations the Mozambique tion was signed with the Union of South Africa respecting the trade of the Transvaal with the port of Lourenco Marques (Delagoa bay), the recruitment of natives in Portuguese territory for work in the Rand mines, and other matters. It replaced the Mozambique Convention which had been concluded with the Transvaal Government in 1909 and had lapsed in 1923.