MOSQUITOS. 249 



and grape-vines yield their fruit twice in each year, with- 

 out any labor or irrigation being bestowed on them. All 

 grains and vegetables, if only sown, do the same; and, if 

 advantage is taken of the mists of winter, even thiee crops 

 of pulse may be raised. Cotton was now standing in the 

 pods in his fields, and he did not seem to care about it. I 

 understood him to say that this last plant flourishes, but the 

 wet of one of the two rainy seasons with which this coun- 

 try is favored sometimes proves troublesome to the grower. 

 I am not aware whether wheat has ever been tried, but 1 

 saw both figs and grapes bearing well. The great com- 

 plaint of all cultivators is the want of a good road to carry 

 their produce to market. Here all kinds of food are re- 

 markably cheap. 



Farther on we left the mountainous country, and, as we 

 descended toward the west coast, saw the lands assuming 

 a more sterile, uninviting aspect. On our right ran the 

 river Senza, which nearer the sea takes the name of Bengo 

 It is about fifty yards broad, and navigable for canoes. 

 The low plains adjacent to its banks are protected from 

 inundation by embankments, and the population is entirely 

 occupied in raising food and fruits for exportation to 

 Loanda by means of canoes. The banks are infested by 

 myriads of the most ferocious mosquitos I ever met. Not 

 one of our party could get a snatch of sleep. I was taken 

 into the house of a Portuguese, but was soon glad to make 

 my escape and lie across the path on the lee side of the 

 fire, where the smoke blew over my body. My host won- 

 dered at my want of taste, and I at his want of feeling; 

 for, to our astonishment, he and the other inhabitants had 

 actually become used to what was at least equal to a nail 

 through the heel of one's boot, or the toothache. 



As we were now drawing near to the sea, my com- 

 panions were looking at every thing i n a serious light. One 

 of them asked me if we should all have an opportunity of 

 watching each other at Loanda. " Suppose one went for 

 water: would the others see if he were kidnapped?" I 



