inst color. Mr. Canto gave an
entertainment in order to draw all classes together and promote general
good-will. Two sovas or native chiefs were present, and took their
places without the least appearance of embarrassment. The Sova of
Kilombo appeared in the dress of a general, and the Sova of Bango was
gayly attired in a red coat, profusely ornamented with tinsel. The
latter had a band of musicians with him consisting of six trumpeters and
four drummers, who performed very well. These men are fond of titles,
and the Portuguese government humors them by conferring honorary
captaincies, etc.: the Sova of Bango was at present anxious to obtain
the title of "Major of all the Sovas". At the tables of other gentlemen
I observed the same thing constantly occurring. At this meeting Mr.
Canto communicated some ideas which I had written out on the dignity
of labor, and the superiority of free over slave labor. The Portuguese
gentlemen present were anxiously expecting an arrival of American
cotton-seed from Mr. Gabriel. They are now in the transition state from
unlawful to lawful trade, and turn eagerly to cotton, coffee, and sugar
as new sources of wealth. Mr. Canto had been commissioned by them to
purchase three sugar-mills. Our cruisers have been the principal agents
in compelling them to abandon the slave-trade; and our government,
in furnishing them with a supply of cotton-seed, showed a generous
intention to aid them in commencing a more honorable course. It can
scarcely be believed, however, that after Lord Clarendon had been at
the trouble of procuring fresh cotton-seed through our minister at
Washington, and had sent it out to the care of H. M. Commissioner at
Loanda, probably from having fallen into the hands of a few incorrigible
slave-traders, it never reached its destination. It was most likely cast
into the sea of Ambriz, and my friends at Golungo Alto were left without
the means of commencing a new enterprise.

Mr. Canto mentioned that there is now much more cotton in the country
than can be consumed; and if he had possession of a few hundred pounds,
he would buy up all the oil and cotton at a fair price, and thereby
bring about a revolution in the agriculture of the country. These
commodities are not produced in greater quantity, because the people
have no market for those which now spring up almost spontaneously around
them. The above was put down in my journal when I had no idea that
enlarged supplies of cotton