Slave trading dominates the Portuguese economy in…

Slave trading dominates the Portuguese economy in eighteenth-century Angola.

Slaves are obtained by agents, called pombeiros, who roam the interior, generally following established routes along rivers.

They buy slaves, called pegas (pieces), from local chiefs in exchange for commodities such as cloth and wine.

The pombeiros return to Luanda or Benguela with chain gangs of several hundred captives, most of whom are malnourished and in poor condition from the arduous trip on foot.

On the coast, they are better fed and readied for their sea crossing.

Before embarkIng, they Are baptized en masse by Roman Catholic priests.

The Atlantic crossing in the overcrowded, unsanitary vessels lasts from five weeks to two months.

Many captives dies en route.