272 DELAGOA BAY. 



both officials and civilians, and during their 

 long stay in the country they have implanted 

 these good qualities in the natives to a remark- 

 able degree. They are everywhere on the most 

 friendly terms with the natives, partly from 

 good-nature on both sides, and partly from want 

 of strength on the part of the Portuguese to 

 force the natives to anything either good or 

 bad. It is this want of strength that completely 

 paralyses the development of the country. No 

 one will venture to send goods into the interior, 

 to establish cotton or sugar-cane plantations, 

 or enter into any other industry, from the cer- 

 tainty that the Government is absolutely power- 

 less to protect them in the slightest degree in 

 case of any disturbance or attack, or indemnify 

 them for any loss. Even in the towns there 

 are only a few wretched black soldiers, upon 

 whom no dependence whatever can be placed, 

 even for simple patrol or police duties. At 

 the same time nothing could be easier than to 

 supply the necessary protection and confidence, 

 as a comparatively small force would keep the 



