CAPE VERDE ISLANDS, a group of islands west of Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean, so called from Cape Verde, opposite to which they are situated, 320 miles west of Cape Verde, and between lat. 15° and 18° N. and between long. 22° and 25° W. They belong to Portugal. As to their number, some reckon 10, others 14 or more, by giving the name of islands to masses which are only rocks. The 10 principal islands are Sao Thiago, Fogo, Brava, Maio, Boavista, Sao Nicola°, Santo Ando, Sao Vicente, Santa Luzia and Sal. The total area of the group is 1,516 square miles. They are, in general, mountainous. The island of Fogo, one of the group, consists of one single mountain, a volcano, sometimes active, about 10,000 feet above the level of the sea. Some of the islands are very hare; in others the lower hills are cov ered with a beautiful verdure, as well as the valleys between; but there is little water, ex cept what is found in ponds and wells. Long droughts have occurred, sometimes causing great loss of life. The climate is hot and un healthy in most of the islands. The soil is, for the most part, not very fertile; nevertheless some parts produce sugar, coffee, rice, tobacco, maize, etc., with bananas, lemons, oranges,
citrons, grapes and other fruits. European do mestic animals abound and thrive well. Marine turtles are plentiful. The ports of the archi pelago were visited in 1913 by 1,696 merchant vessels of 6,136,784 tons, besides coasting trade. In 1914 the imports were valued at $2,306,610; the exports in the same year were valued at $332,739. The total population amounted to 143,929 in 1912, of whom 4,799 were white, the rest being chiefly negroes. The chief town is Praia on Sao Thiago (Santiago), and Porto Grande on Sao Vicente is a coaling station for steamers. Salt is an export of importance. Coffee, hides and physic-nuts are also exported. There is a resident governor at Praia. Consult Ellis, (West African Islands) (London 1885) ; Fea, (Delle Isole del Capo Verde' (Rome 1899); Lima, °Rapport sur les iles du Cap Vert)) (in (Recueil consulaire,) Vol. CX, Brus sels 1900).