ublic mention of his crimes attaches no stigma to the man's
character. The council of war, by which these delinquents always prefer
to be judged, is composed of men who eagerly expect to occupy the post
of commandant themselves, and anticipate their own trial for similar
acts at some future time. The severest sentence a council of war awards
is a few weeks' suspension from office in his regiment.

This want of official integrity, which is not at all attributable to the
home government of Portugal, would prove a serious impediment in the way
of foreign enterprise developing the resources of this rich province.
And to this cause, indeed, may be ascribed the failure of the Portuguese
laws for the entire suppression of the slave-trade. The officers ought
to receive higher pay, if integrity is expected from them. At present,
a captain's pay for a year will only keep him in good uniform. The high
pay our own officers receive has manifest advantages.

Before leaving Ambaca we received a present of ten head of cattle from
Mr. Schut of Loanda, and, as it shows the cheapness of provisions here,
I may mention that the cost was only about a guinea per head.

On crossing the Lucalla we made a detour to the south, in order to visit
the famous rocks of Pungo Andongo. As soon as we crossed the rivulet
Lotete, a change in the vegetation of the country was apparent. We found
trees identical with those to be seen south of the Chobe. The grass,
too, stands in tufts, and is of that kind which the natives consider to
be best adapted for cattle. Two species of grape-bearing vines abound
every where in this district, and the influence of the good pasturage is
seen in the plump condition of the cattle. In all my previous inquiries
respecting the vegetable products of Angola, I was invariably
directed to Pungo Andongo. Do you grow wheat? "Oh, yes, in Pungo
Andongo."--Grapes, figs, or peaches? "Oh, yes, in Pungo Andongo."--Do
you make butter, cheese, etc.? The uniform answer was, "Oh, yes, there
is abundance of all these in Pungo Andongo." But when we arrived here,
we found that the answers all referred to the activity of one man,
Colonel Manuel Antonio Pires. The presence of the wild grape shows that
vineyards might be cultivated with success; the wheat grows well without
irrigation; and any one who tasted the butter and cheese at the table of
Colonel Pires would prefer them to the stale produce of the Irish dairy,
in general use throughout tha