BANKS OF THE LUCALLA. 437 



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

 manufacturing iron was thus rendered abortive. Labor and sub- 

 sistence are, however, so very cheap that almost any amount of 

 work can be executed, at a cost that renders expensive establish- 

 ments unnecessary. 



A party of native miners and smiths is still kept in the employ- 

 ment of the government, who, working the rich black magnetic 

 iron ore, produce for the government from 480 to 500 bars of 

 good malleable iron every month. They are supported by the ap- 

 propriation of a few thousands of a small fresh-water fish, called 

 " Cacusu," a portion of the tax levied upon the fishermen of the 

 Goanza. This fish is so much relished in the country that those 

 who do not wish to eat them can easily convert them into money. 

 The commandant of the district of Massangano, for instance, has 

 a right to a dish of three hundred every morning, as part of his 

 salary. Shell-fish are also found in the Coanza, and the "Peixe- 

 mulher,"' or woman-fish of the Portuguese, which is probably a 

 Manatee. 



The banks of the Lucalla are very pretty, well planted with 

 orange-trees, bananas, and the palm {ElceisGuineensis) which yields 

 the oil of commerce. Large plantations of maize, manioc, and to- 

 bacco are seen along both banks, which are enlivened by the fre- 

 quent appearance of native houses imbosomed in dense shady 

 groves, with little boys and girls playing about them. The banks 

 are steep, the water having cut out its bed in dark red alluvial 

 soil. Before every cottage a small stage is erected, to which the 

 inhabitants may descend to draw water without danger from the 

 alligators. Some have a little palisade made in the water for 

 safety from these reptiles, and others use the shell of the fruit of 

 the baobab-tree attached to a pole about ten feet long, with which, 

 while standing on the high bank, they may draw water without 

 fear of accident. 



Many climbing plants run up the lofty silk, cotton, and baobab 

 trees, and hang their beautiful flowers in gay festoons on the 

 branches. As we approach Massangano, the land on both banks 

 of the Lucalla becomes very level, and large portions are left 

 marshy after the annual floods ; but all is very fertile. As an il- 

 lustration of the strength of the soil, I may state that we saw to- 

 bacco-plants in gardens near the confluence eight feet high, and 



