250 ST. PAUL DE LOANDA. 



There are various evidences of its former magnificence, 

 especially two cathedrals, one of which, once a Jesuit 

 college, is now converted into a workshop ; and in passing 

 the other we saw with sorrow a number of oxen feeding 

 within its stately walls. Three forts continue in a good 

 state of repair. Many large stone houses are to be found. 

 The palace of the governor and Government offices are 

 commodious structures, but nearly all the houses of the 

 native inhabitants are of wattle and daub. Trees are 

 planted all over the town for the sake of shade, and the 

 city presents an imposing appearance from the sea. It is 

 provided with an effective police, and the custom-house 

 department is extremely well managed. All parties agree 

 in representing the Portuguese authorities as both polite 

 and obliging ; and, if ever any inconvenience is felt by 

 strangers visiting the port, it must be considered the fault 

 of the system, and not of the men. 



The harbor is formed by the low, sandy island of Loanda, 

 which is inhabited by about 1300 souls, upward of 600 of 

 whom are industrious native fishermen, who supply the 

 city with abundance of good fish daily. The space between 

 it and the mainland, on which the city is built, is the 

 station for ships. When a high southwest wind blows, 

 the waves of the ocean dash over part of the island, and, 

 driving large quantities of sand before them, gradually fill 

 up the harbor. Great quantities of soil are also washed 

 in the rain} 7 season from the heights above the city, so that 

 the port, which once contained water sufficient to float the 

 lai'gest ships close to the custom-house, is now at low-water 

 dry. The ships are compelled to anchor about a mile north 

 of their old station. Nearly all the water consumed in 

 Loanda is brought from the river Bengo by means of 

 launches, the only supply that the city affords being from 

 some deep wells of slightly-brackish water. Unsuccessful 

 attempts have been made by different governors to finish a 

 canal which the Dutch, while in possession of Loanda 

 during the seven 3 T ears preceding 1648, had begun, to bring 



