PUNGO AJSTDONGO. 455 



had been nominated by the portfolio of this general government, 

 Xo. 41, of 27th December of the past year ; and if not otherwise 

 determined, the same official shall be judged by a council of war 

 for the criminal acts which are to him attributed." 



Even this public mention of his crimes attaches no stigma to 

 the man's character. The council of war, by which these delin- 

 quents always prefer to be judged, is composed of men who eagerly 

 expect to occupy the post of commandant themselves, and antici- 

 pate their own trial for similar acts at some future time. The se- 

 verest sentence a council of war awards is a few weeks' suspen- 

 sion from office in his regiment. 



This want of official integrity, which is not at all attributable 

 to the home government of Portugal, would prove a serious im- 

 pediment in the way of foreign enterprise developing the resources 

 of this rich province. And to this cause, indeed, may be ascribed 

 the failure of the Portuguese laws for the entire suppression of 

 the slave-trade. The officers ought to receive higher pay, if in- 

 tegrity is expected from them. At present, a captain's pay for a 

 year will only keep him in good uniform. The high pay our own 

 officers receive has manifest advantages. 



Before leaving Ambaca we received a present of ten head of 

 cattle from Mr. Schut of Loanda, and, as it shows the cheapness 

 of provisions here, I may mention that the cost was only about a 

 guinea per head. 



On crossing the Lucalla we made a detour to the south, in 

 order to visit the famous rocks of Pungo Andongo. As soon as 

 we crossed the rivulet Lotete, a change in the vegetation of the 

 country was apparent. We found trees identical with those to be 

 seen south of the Chobe. The grass, too, stands in tufts, and is 

 of that kind which the natives consider to be best adapted for cat- 

 tle. Two species of grape-bearing vines abound every where in 

 this district, and the influence of the good pasturage is seen in 

 the plump condition of the cattle. In all my previous inquiries 

 respecting the vegetable products of Angola, I was invariably di- 

 rected to Pungo Andongo. Do you grow wheat? "Oh, yes, in 

 Pungo Andongo."' — Grapes, figs, or peaches ? " Oh, yes, in Pungo 

 Andongo." — Do you make butter, cheese, etc. ? The uniform an- 

 swer was, " Oh, yes, there is abundance of all these in Pungo An- 

 dongo. "' But when we arrived here, we found that the answers 



