West Africa was among the major regions of slave embarkation. Europeans used to call this region Guinea, and it comprised roughly all the countries situated between present day Gambia and Gabon. The image is of a map of West Africa produced by Joan Blaeu in 1662. It indicates the names of the main ports located along the coast as well as the names of some of the peoples inhabiting the West African interior. Elements of the region’s geography, fauna and flora adorn the map. The image is reproduced courtesy of Tracy W. McGregor Library of American History, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library. Permission required to reproduce.