262 ruins of iron-foundry. 



Jesuits also introduced many other trees for the sake of 

 their timber alone. Numbers of these have spread over 

 the country; some have probably died out and others failed 

 to spi^ead, like a lonely sjoecimen that stands in what was 

 the Botanic Garden of Loanda, and, though most useful 

 in yielding a substitute for frankincense, is the only one 

 of the kind in Africa. 



Accompanied by the commandant of Cazengo, who was 

 well acquainted with this part of the country, I pro- 

 ceeded in a canoe down the river Lucalla to Massangano. 

 This river is about eighty-five yards wide, and navigable for 

 canoes from its confluence with the Coanza to about six 

 miles above the point where it receives the Luinha. Near 

 this latter point stand the strong, massive ruins of an iron- 

 foundry erected in the times (1768) and by the order of the 

 famous Marquis of Pombal. The whole of the buildings 

 were constructed of stone cemented with oil and lime. The 

 dam for water-power was made of the same materials, and 

 twenty-seven feet high. This had been broken through by 

 a flood, and solid blocks, many yards in length, were carried 

 down the stream, affording an instructive example of the 

 transporting-power of water. There was nothing in the 

 appearance of the place to indicate unhealthiness; but 

 eight Spanish and Swedish workmen, being brought hither 

 for the purpose of instructing the natives in the art of 

 smelting iron, soon fell victims to disease and " irregulari- 

 ties." The effort of the marquis to improve the mode of 

 manufacturing iron was thus rendered abortive. Labor 

 and subsistence are, however, so very cheap that almost 

 any amount of work can be executed at a cost that renders 

 expensive establishments unnecessary. 



A party of native miners and smiths are still kept in the 

 employment of the Government, who, working the rich, 

 black, magnetic iron-ore, produce for the Government from 

 180 to 500 bars of good malleable iron every month. They 

 are supported by the appropriation of a few thousands of a 

 small fresh-water fish, called "Cacusu," a portion ol the tax 



