ANNOBON, a small island of Africa, on the coast of Loango, belonging to the Portuguese. It lies in E. Long. 5° 10'. S. Lat. 1° 50' and receives its name from being discovered on New-year's day. According to Pyrard, it is about five or six French leagues in compass; but Bandrand says, it is ten leagues round. Here are two high mountains, the tops of which being continually covered with clouds, occasion frequent rains. On the south-east of the island are two rocks; one of which is low, and upon a level with the surface of the sea; the other higher and larger, but both dangerous in the night to shipping; but between them the channel is deep and clear. These rocks are inhabited by vast numbers of birds, so tame, that the sailors frequently catch them with their hands. On the same side of the island is a convenient watering-place at the foot of a rivulet, which tumbles from the mountains down to a valley covered with orange and citron trees, &c. and affording a pleasant and refreshing shade; but the road on the north-west side is difficult and dangerous, though most frequented by ships who have no intention of touching upon the continent. In either place it is difficult to take in a sufficient quantity of water, on account of the violent breakings of the sea, and a stone intrenchment erected by the negroes, from which they annoy all strangers that attempt to land. The true road for shipping lies on the north-east side, where they may anchor in seven, ten, thirteen, or fifteen fathoms, on a fine sand close to the land, opposite to the village where the negroes have thrown up their intrenchments.

The climate is wholesome, and the air clear and serene for the greatest part of the year. Every part of the island is watered by pleasant brooks, and fresh-water springs, which, however, at the new and full moons, or in all high tides, acquire a breakfulness. The banks of every rivulet are covered with palms, whence the inhabitants extract their wine by incision. Here are a number of fertile valleys, which produce Turkey-corn, rice, millet, yams, potatoes, &c. and afford pasture for abundance of oxen, sheep, goats, &c. Poultry and fish also abound here; but the only mercantile production is cotton, which is esteemed equal in quality to any produced in India, though the quantity is small.

In the year 1605, the Dutch admiral Matelief found 200 negroes, and two Portuguese, on Annobon, most of them able to bear arms, expert in the use of them, and trained up in military discipline. La Croix says, it has a town opposite to the road that contains above 100 houses, the whole surrounded by a parapet. Most of their dwellings are cane-huts. In the whole island there is not a single house built of stone, and only two of wood, which belong to the Portuguese. All the inhabitants are meanly clothed; the women go bare-headed, and have also the upper part of the body naked, modestly being defended by a piece of linen wrapt under their stomach, and falling down in the form of a petticoat, or wide apron, to the knees. As to the men, they wear only a linen girdle round the loins, with a small flap before. The women carry their children on their backs, and suckle them over the shoulder. All the inhabitants are subject to the Portuguese governor, who is the chief person in the island; at the same time that the negroes have their own chief, subordinate to him. They are all rigid catholics, having been either compelled or persuaded by the arguments of the Portuguese to embrace, and, like all other converts, they are bigotted in proportion to the novelty of the belief, and their ignorance of the true tenets.