The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Saint Thomas (Gulf of Guinea)

SAINT THOMAS, an island of the gulf of Guinea, belonging to Portugal, in lat. 20' N., lon. 6° 40' E.; area, 145 sq. m.; pop. about 20,000, mostly blacks. In its centre the peak of St. Anna rises to the height of 7,020 ft. The valleys are fertile. The climate of the lowlands is unhealthy, but the southern part is salubrious. Cotton, sugar, indigo, cocoanuts, canella bark, sweet potatoes, manioc, dates, and maize are produced. The principal article of export is coffee. A Portuguese bishop resides at the capital, St. Thomas, which has about 4,000 inhabitants. The island was discovered on St. Thomas's day, 1471, by Vasconcellos.