XXXIII.] DEPARTURE OF MY CREW. 441 



when I had called on the chief, whose fetich would not allow February, 

 him to behold the sea, it was time to leave for the south-going ^876. 

 Portuguese mail at Ambriz, in order to return to Loanda. 



Ambriz is about twelve miles south of Kinsembo, and just 

 north of it is a stream which the natives will not allow the 

 Portuguese to cross, although other Europeans can pass freely. 

 This river may be considered the real northern boundary of the 

 province of Angola, although our Government only recognizes 

 the power of the Portuguese up to 8° south, while this river 

 is in about 7° 48' south. At Ambriz, the Portuguese have a 

 custom-house and other Government buildings, and a small 

 garrison. 



On returning to Loanda, I found every thing progressing 

 satisfactorily. We were, however, at our wits' end for charts 

 and sailing directions for the schooner; for, notwithstanding 

 that Mello had given me all that could be found in the Gov- 

 ernment stores, I could get none for the Mozambique. But 

 fortune favored us most unexpectedly by the arrival of a fine 

 schooner flying the R.Y.S. burgee and white ensign. This 

 proved to be the Linda., owned by Mr. F. Lee, a Royal Acade- 

 mician, who was returning to England from the Cape. He had 

 visited Zanzibar the year before, and was supplied with the lat- 

 est local charts and directions, which he very kindly gave to us. 



At last, on the 8th of February, all was ready, and Captain 

 Alexanderson set sail with a crew of four besides my Zanzi- 

 bar men, accompanied some little distance by the boats of the 

 English residents and those of the Cygnet.^ which was then in 

 harbor. 



The next day the Sirius arrived, having been ordered by the 

 commodore to give me every assistance, and, if necessary, to 

 take me and my people to the Cape, from whence they could 

 be sent to Zanzibar by the mail steamer. As the men had al- 

 ready sailed, I had nothing to request except that, in case of 

 falling in with the schooner, she might be given a tow. 



My thanks are due to Messrs. Kewton and Carnegie, and to 

 Mr. George Essex, as well as to the consul, for their hospital- 

 ity and great assistance rendered in fitting out and provisioning 

 the vessel. 



Soon after the schooner sailed, tlie steamship Congo, Captain 



