Plan of Portendic called also Portu d´addi or Penia Taken from Labat

Title

Plan of Portendic called also Portu d´addi or Penia Taken from Labat

Description

Map shows part of the coast off Senegal, the salt ponds near Saint-Louis, offshore sailing ships, compass rose and an index. In the 16th and 18th centuries, Portendic was a French harbour, founded by the French East India Company and dependent on the colony of Senegal. It was located thirty kilometres north of Saint-Louis and was important for the trade in gum arabic; it was a trading post of the French East India Company. from ‘A new general collection of voyages and travels: consisting of the most esteemed relations, which have been hitherto published in any language; comprehending everything remarkable in its kind, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America’.

c. 1745

Artist

Bernigeroth Martin (1670-1733)

Martin Bernigeroth (born 1670 in Rammelburg; died 6 June 1733 in Leipzig) was a German engraver.

Historical Description

In 1444, the first Portuguese ship reached the coast off what is now Senegal. The Portuguese were primarily interested in trading African gold, bypassing the Arabs. In the following centuries, the trade was carried on by lançados, descendants of Portuguese sailors and African women. Communities of Lançados existed in numerous places along the African coast; however, these were not initially colonies. Toward the end of the 15th century, a strong northern migration of Tukulor took place, finally destroying the state of Takrur and causing Jolof to break up into several kingdoms, namely Waalo, Cayor, Baol, Sine, and Saloum. These states were all unstable; nobles, kings, and members of the warrior caste of the old Mali Empire fought for influence.