126 THROUGH ANGOLA 



fore naturally drained, and the soil throughout 

 appears friable and easily worked." 



Beyond Cubal station, where the line ascends 

 gradually along the valley of the Ganda, a tribu- 

 tary of the Cubal, the heavier rainfall, more 

 temperate climate, and increasing elevation are 

 altering the features of the country. The last 

 baobab and euphorbia have been passed, and an 

 open forest and grass- covered land reached, which 

 would be suitable for stock-raising if the tsetse fly, 

 that carrier of dreaded Nagana cattle disease, was 

 not so close by in the Cubal and Catumbella valleys. 

 The fly must be stamped out before this part of the 

 country can be used for stock-raising. 



At Ganda, where the train halts for the night, 

 passengers may sleep in the train or in a good hotel 

 near the station. 



Beyond Caconda station, which is reached at 

 250 kilometres, the line again crosses the valley of 

 the Catumbella River at 275 kilometres to reach, 

 40 kilometres farther on, Cuma, a growing town 

 4700 feet above the sea. 



To the north of Cuma is an open country, 

 fertile, fly-free, and not unlike the Transvaal high 

 veldt ; where Mission stations, Boers, and the 

 Zambe/ia Exploring Company have large farms. 



The 125, 000 -acre farm on the Cuito stream, 

 belonging to the Zambezia Company, has proved 

 remarkably successful this year (1920), the wheat 

 averaging nearly 30 bushels per acre, while other 

 crops have given equally good results ; the cattle 

 of the Farm, which depend on grazing alone, arc 

 \ fat and free from disease. 



