SOUTH AFRICA UNDER KING MANUEL

“This volume is the sequel of my ‘Europe’s Discovery of South Africa’. It carries the history of South Africa to the year 1521, and might therefore have been entitled “South Africa on the Eve of the Reformation in Europe.” I have felt it more appropriate to take the title from matters that affected South Africa itself at the time. In those days when some kings not only reigned, but governed, the policy of the king was an important factor of history. European and North American readers may find the title strange; as some of them did wonder at the title of my former volume, not realising that the Union of South Africa is the home of a young nation, and that the outlook of a South African is from the other end of the ocean and from a different hemisphere. “The twenty-six years here recorded tell of the foundation of the Portuguese empire in Africa south of the equator. This part of Portugal’s empire has endured, and is flourishing to-day, whilst practically all the rest of that great empire has vanished. Brazil, oncea Portuguese colony in America, has become one of the leading nations of the world, and is a triumph of the adaptable Portuguese culture in a new sphere. India has passed to other hands, except the 2,425 square miles behind Goa. Thearea od portuguese Angola and Mozambique to-day equals the combined areas of continental Spain, France, England, Italy and Germany. The rest of Portugal’s empire now is one-thirtieth of what we may call Portuguese South Africa, which is the friendly neighsbour of the Union os South Africa. My story tells of the days when all these lands were under the control of King Manuel and his Overseas Council. [...]”.