, which is probably a Manatee.

The banks of the Lucalla are very pretty, well planted with
orange-trees, bananas, and the palm ('Elaeis Guineensis') which yields
the oil of commerce. Large plantations of maize, manioc, and tobacco are
seen along both banks, which are enlivened by the frequent appearance
of native houses imbosomed in dense shady groves, with little boys and
girls playing about them. The banks are steep, the water having cut out
its bed in dark red alluvial soil. Before every cottage a small stage
is erected, to which the inhabitants may descend to draw water without
danger from the alligators. Some have a little palisade made in the
water for safety from these reptiles, and others use the shell of the
fruit of the baobab-tree attached to a pole about ten feet long, with
which, while standing on the high bank, they may draw water without fear
of accident.

Many climbing plants run up the lofty silk, cotton, and baobab trees,
and hang their beautiful flowers in gay festoons on the branches. As we
approach Massangano, the land on both banks of the Lucalla becomes very
level, and large portions are left marshy after the annual floods; but
all is very fertile. As an illustration of the strength of the soil,
I may state that we saw tobacco-plants in gardens near the confluence
eight feet high, and each plant had thirty-six leaves, which were
eighteen inches long by six or eight inches broad. But it is not
a pastoral district. In our descent we observed the tsetse, and
consequently the people had no domestic animals save goats.

We found the town of Massangano on a tongue of rather high land, formed
by the left bank of the Lucalla and right bank of the Coanza, and
received true Portuguese hospitality from Senhor Lubata. The town has
more than a thousand inhabitants; the district has 28,063, with only
315 slaves. It stands on a mound of calcareous tufa, containing great
numbers of fossil shells, the most recent of which resemble those found
in the marly tufa close to the coast. The fort stands on the south side
of the town, on a high perpendicular bank overhanging the Coanza. This
river is here a noble stream, about a hundred and fifty yards wide,
admitting navigation in large canoes from the bar at its mouth to
Cambambe, some thirty miles above this town. There, a fine waterfall
hinders farther ascent. Ten or twelve large canoes laden with country
produce pass Massangano every day. Four galleons were constru