Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 56
38 • Literacy rate 85% • The people are civilised and well behaved • Crime rate is very low; because of small population the crim - inals have no escape route • These islands were un-inhabitd before 15 th century • The Portuguese army occupied it and it became an important centre for slave trade • In nineteenth century when slavery was abolished, decline set in • The locals started independence movement • There was bloodshed and plunder; later they got independ- ence • The population is wholly Christian • Some people have now moved in from neighbouring coun - tries for business • Some small mosques have also been built by Senegaleses and people from Guinea Conakry • In days gone by, Portuguese ruled over vast areas in the world. Currently the language is spoken in only five countries; Portugal, Brazil, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and Congo – all counted as poor countries in the world