Chap. XX. CUSTOM-HOUSE ARRANGEMENTS 395 



dance of good fish daily. The spac between it and the mam- 

 land, on which the city is built, is the station for ships. When a 

 high south-west wind blows, the waves of the ocean dash over 

 part of the island, and, driving large quantities of sand before 

 them, gradually fill up the harbour. Great quantities of soil are 

 also washed in the rainy season from the heights above the city, 

 so that the port, which once contained water sufficient to float the 

 largest ships close to the custom-house, is now at low water dry. 

 The ships are compelled to anchor about a mile north of their old 

 station. Nearly all the water consumed in Loanda is brought from 

 the river Bengo by means of launches, the only supply that the 

 city affords being from some deep wells of slightly brackish water ; 

 unsuccessful attempts have been made by different governors to 

 finish a canal, which the Dutch, while in possession of Loanda 

 during the seven years preceding 1648, had begim, to bring 

 Avater from the river Coanza to the city. There is not a single 

 English merchant at Loanda, and only two American. This is 

 the more remarkable, as nearly all the commerce is carried on 

 by means of English calico brought hither via, Lisbon. Several 

 English houses attempted to establish a trade about 1845, and 

 accepted bills on Rio de Janeiro in payment for their goods, but 

 the increased activity of our cruisers had such an effect upon the 

 mercantile houses of that city, that most of them failed. The 

 English merchants lost all, and Loanda got a bad name in the 

 commercial world in consequence. 



One of the arrangements of the custom-house may have had 

 some influence in preventing English trade. Ships coming here 

 must be consigned to some one on the spot ; the consignee re- 

 ceives one hundred dollars per mast, and he generally makes a 

 great deal more for himself, by putting a percentage on boats and 

 men hired for loading and unloading, and on every item that 

 passes through his hands. The port charges are also rendered 

 heavy by twenty dollars being charged as a perquisite of the Secre- 

 tary of Government, with a fee for the chief physician, something 

 for the hospital, custom-house officers, guards, &c. &c. But with 

 all these drawbacks, the Americans carry on a brisk and profitable 

 trade in calico, biscuit, flour, butter, &c. &c. 



The Portuguese home Government has not generally, received 

 the credit for sincerity in suppressing the slave-trade, which I 



