EUROPE IN WEST AFRICA 323 dustrial population professed the Protestant faith, the countries which contested with Portugal the validity of the papal gift to her of all countries which she might discover to the east of the Azores, were of the Reformed religion. France justified herself, perhaps, by the argument that she had prior claims, for it is stoutly asserted on her behalf, and the claim is admitted by some foreign writers, that during the fourteenth century, and before the approach of the Portuguese, French adventurers had discovered and French companies had traded with the West Coast of Africa. Such trade had not, however, according to the accounts which are given of it, proved successful, and all traces of French occupation had disappeared before the Portuguese discoverers of the middle of the fifteenth century made Europe acquainted with the coast.

Whatever may be the truth of this story, France was among the earliest and the most successful of the competitors of the Portuguese upon the coast. She was very shortly followed by the English, Dutch, Danes, and Prussians. The first Portuguese company was formed in 1444 for the purpose of exploring the coast, and it initiated the European trade in slaves by sea.

Both Spain and Portugal had long been supplied with slaves from the Soudan by land.

Spain, having its hands full elsewhere, willingly entered into an agreement with Portugal not to interfere with its possessions in Africa. Towards the end of the fifteenth century the King of Portugal formed a Guinea Company, and caused forts to be built at Accra, Axim, Elmina, and at other places up and down the coast. The Governor-General of these forts resided at Elmina. No attempt was made or could be made to penetrate inland, the natives being barbarous, and most of the way being, as Barbot tells us, ''through vast, thick forests, swarming with robbers and wild beasts." This part of the coast, now known as the Gold Coast, was the best part of the coast for gold, and though inland wars often spoilt the trade, the position of Governor