ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. 209 



Mr. Canto mentioned that there is now much more cot- 

 ton in the country than can be consumed; and if he lu'd 

 possession of a few hundred pounds he would buy up all 

 the oil and cotton at a fair price, and thereby bring about 

 a revolution in the agriculture of the country. These 

 commodities are not produced in greater quantity, because 

 the people have no market for those which now spring 

 up almost spontaneously around them. The above was 

 put down in my journal when I had no idea that enlarged 

 supplies of cotton from new sources were so much needed 

 at home. 



It is common to cut down cotton-trees as a nuisance. 

 and cultivate beans, potatoes, and manioc sufficient only 

 for their own consumption. I have the impression that 

 cotton, which is deciduous in America, is perennial here; 

 for the plants I saw in winter were not dead, though going 

 by the name Algodao Americana, or American cotton. The 

 rents paid for gardens belonging to the old convents are 

 merely nominal, varying from one shilling to three pounds 

 per annum. The higher rents being realized from those 

 in the immediate vicinity of Loanda, none but Portuguese 

 or half-castes can pay them. 



"When about to start, the horse which the governor had 

 kindly presented for Sekeletu was seized with inflamma- 

 tion, which delayed us some time longer; and we ultimately 

 lost it. 



November 20. — An eclipse of the sun, which I had 

 anxiously hoped to observe with a view of determining 

 the longitude, happened this morning, and, as often took 

 place in this cloudy climate, the sun was covered four 

 minutes before it began. When it shone forth, the eclipse 

 was in progress, and a few minutes before it should 

 (according to my calculations) have ended the sun was 

 again completely obscured. The greatest patience and 

 perseverance are required if one wishes to ascertain his 

 position when it is the rainy season. 



Before leaving, I had an opportunity of observing a 

 23* 



