LOBITO BAY 121 



from this height like a grass- covered valley ; it is 

 nothing more than an African swamp, ugly to-day 

 but useful to-morrow, for the dock and wharf 

 space it will give. Contrasting vividly with the 

 green of the swamps is the yellow of the limestone 

 hills which fringe the coast, stretching away to the 

 north and south and east as far as one can see. 

 Between these hills and the shore, and looking 

 very small from this height, shimmer the steel 

 rails of the railway which, starting at Lobito, runs 

 past Benguella, and then ever eastwards to climb 

 over these hills on to the great bracing plains of 

 the east, and then across them to such mines as 

 King Solomon never dreamt of, the greater land 

 of Ophir Katanga. 



Life on the open, breezy, and mosquito-free 

 sand- spit at Lobito is more pleasant and healthy 

 than in the neighbouring towns of Benguella and 

 Catumbella, but this advantage will be abolished 

 if the building speculator overcrowds the site. 

 There are already banks, shops, a Governor's 

 house, British Consulate, and the railway terminus 

 with its offices and workshops. 



The railway is staffed by both Portuguese 

 and British ; the Machados, father and son, 

 who were in control of the management, working 

 with the same zeal as the British officials, Messrs. 

 Varian, Clark, and Johnston, who are technical 

 experts. To all of these, Mr. Duthie the Vice- 

 Consul, Mr. Russell, Mr. Petersen, and especially 

 Mr. Tudor Pole, the constructor of wireless 

 stations, I am indebted for much kindness and 

 help. 



