ANNOBON, or

See also:

• ANNO, or HANNO, SAINT (c. Toro—ro75)

ANNO  Boll, an island in the Gulf of Guinea, in 1° 24' S. and 5° 35' E., belonging to Spain . It is rro m . S.W. of St Thomas . Its length is about 4 m., its breadth 2, and its area 64 sq. m . Rising in some parts nearly 3000 ft. above the sea, it presents a succession of beautiful valleys and steep mountains, covered with rich woods and luxuriant vegetation . The inhabitants, some 3000 in number, are negroes and profess belief in the Roman Catholic faith . The chief town and residence of the governor is called St Antony (San Antonio de Praia) . The roadstead is tolerably safe, and passing vessels take advantage of it in order to obtain water and fresh provisions, of which Annobon contains an abundant supply . The island was discovered by the Portuguese on the 1st of January 1473, from which circumstance it received its name (= New Year) . Annobon, together with Fernando Po, was ceded to Spain by the Portuguese in 1778 . The islanders revolted against their new masters and a state of anarchy ensued, leading, it is averred, to an arrangement by which the island was administered by a body of five natives, each of whom held the office of governor during the period that elapsed till ten ships touched at the island . In the latter part of the 19th century the authority of Spain was re-established .