Final answer:
The southeastward branch, likely referring to trade winds or migration patterns, does not flow past the West coast of Africa, as this concept is more applicable to East African trade influenced by monsoon winds in the Indian Ocean.
Step-by-step explanation:
The southeastward branch you're referring to might be in relation to the patterns of migration or trade winds affecting maritime activities. When examining historical trade routes, particularly in reference to the coast of Africa, we discuss the Indian Ocean trade route utilized by East African city-states. The flow of oceanic trade on the East African coast, enabled by the monsoon winds, does not pertain to any significant flow of water, natural or otherwise, past the West coast of Africa. Instead, these monsoon winds assist ships in travelling northeast towards India and southwest back to Africa. It's important to note that historical maritime trade on the West coast of Africa, particularly in the era of the transatlantic slave trade, was influenced by European powers establishing trading posts and engaging in ocean trade across the Atlantic.
It is worth noting that neither the trading ships known as dhows, which were limited in their travel by rough waves near the southern tip of Africa and weakening monsoon winds, nor the trade winds themselves, would flow past the West coast of Africa, as this area is situated on the opposite side of the continent, facing the Atlantic Ocean.