268 LOSS OF COTTON-SEED. 



known. The Portuguese do not seem at all bigoted in 

 their attachment to slavery, nor yet in their prejudices 

 against color. Mr. Canto gave an entertainment in order 

 to draw all classes together and promote general good- will. 

 Two sovas or native chiefs were present, and took their 

 places without the least appearance of embarrassment. 

 The Sova of Kilombo appeared in the dress of a general, 

 and the Sova of Bango was gayly attired in a red coat 

 profusely ornamented with tinsel. The latter had a band 

 of musicians with him, consisting of six trumpeters and 

 four drummers, who performed very well. These men are 

 fond of titles, and the Portuguese Government humors 

 them by conferring honorary captaincy, &c. : the Sova of 

 Bango was at present anxious to obtain the title of "Major 

 of all the Sovas." At the tables of other gentlemen I 

 observed the same thing constantly occurring. At this 

 meeting Mr. Canto communicated some ideas which I had 

 written out on the dignity of labor and the superiority of 

 free over slave labor. The Portuguese gentlemen present 

 were anxiously expecting an arrival of American cotton- 

 seed from Mr. Gabriel. They are now in the transition- 

 state from unlawful to lawful trade, and turn eagerly to 

 cotton, coffee, and sugar as new sources of wealth. Mr. 

 Canto had been commissioned by them to purchase three 

 sugar-mills. Our cruisers have been the principal agents 

 in compelling them to abandon the slave-trade; and our 

 Government, in furnishing them with a supply of cotton- 

 seed, showed a generous intention to aid them in com- 

 mencing a more honorable course. It can scarcely be 

 believed, however, that after Lord Clarendon had been at 

 the trouble of procuring fresh cotton-seed through our 

 minister at Washington, and had sent it out to the care of 

 H. M. Commissioner at Loanda, probably from having 

 fallen into the hands of a few incorrigible slave-traders, it 

 never reached its destination. It was most likely cast into 

 the sea of Ambriz, and my friends at Golungo Alto were 

 left without the means of commencing a new enterprise. 



