357 . 



very largely predominates; it shows a preponderance of sand 

 and sand-like substances and has a sufficient content of colloidal 

 substances; it is rich in potash, phosphoric acid, and moderately 

 so in nitrogen; it is deficient in lime, which occurs, however, 

 in abundance in the formation of the pre-plateau zone. 



The land is nearly level with only slight declivities; it has a 

 deep soil and is consequently easy to work, the use of powerful 

 agricultural machinery being possible. 



According to the researches carried out (unfortunately only 

 by fits and starts) on this table-land, there is an annual rainfall 

 of about 1,300 to 1,700 mm. distributed over the period from 

 September to April, with a slight break in January, and accom- 

 panied by maximum day temperatures of about 30-32 and 

 night temperatures of from 16-18 C. During the remainder 

 of the year there is no rain and the temperature during the day 

 is from 24-26 and during the nights from 4-6 C. 



The abundant rainfall on these lands which are easily per- 

 meated, especially in the higher portions constituting the 

 table-land, causes an abundant percolation on the sides of the 

 valleys and in the streams which frequently cut through the 

 table-land itself, thus giving a constant supply of water 

 which can be utilized for small but numerous irrigation works. 

 The native population, which permanently inhabits this table- 

 land, cultivates maize, beans, potatoes, and sweet potatoes; 

 the Portuguese merchants have introduced into their orchards 

 oranges and lemons, medlars, peaches, and several other fruit 

 trees. Large quantities of cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry 

 are reared. 



There is plenty of good domanial land available, as the area 

 cultivated by natives is very limited in extent in consequence 

 of the latter having devoted themselves, up to the present, 

 chiefly to the trade in and the conveyance of rubber, etc., from 

 the internal districts to the coast. 



There consequently exist, all over the table-land of Benguela, 

 favourable conditions, not only for agriculture of the industrial 

 type, conducted by whites as cultivators, and carried out by 

 native labour, but also for a colonization carried out directly by 

 white farmers. 



LA GUINEE PORTUGAISE. 



Par CARLOS PEREIRA, 

 Ancien Gouverneur de la Guinee. 



[No abstract supplied by the author.] 



