418 OFFICIAL DELINQUENTS. Chap. XXI. 



natives, and this season is denominated " carneirado," as if by the 

 disease they were slaughtered like sheep. The season of these 

 changes, which is the most favourable for Europeans, is the most 

 unhealthy for the native population; and tins is by no means 

 a climate, in winch either natives or Europeans can indulge in 

 irregularities with impunity. 



Owing to the weakness of the men who had been sick, we Avere 

 able to march but short distances. Three hours and a half 

 brought us to the banks of the Caloi, a small stream which flows 

 into the Senza. This is one of the parts of the country reputed 

 to yield petroleum, but the geological formation, being mica 

 schist dipping towards the eastward, did not promise much for 

 our finding it. Our hospitable friend Mr. Mellot accompanied us 

 to another little river, called the Quango, where I saw two fine 

 boys, the sons of the sub-commandant, Mr. Feltao, who, though 

 only from six to eight years old, were subject to fever. We then 

 passed on in the bright sunlight, the whole country looking so 

 fresh and green after the rains, and everything so cheering, one 

 could not but wonder to find it so feverish. 



We found on reaching Ambaca that the gallant old soldier 

 Laurence Jose Marquis, had, since our passing Icollo i Bengo, 

 been promoted, on account of his stern integrity, to the govern- 

 ment of this important district. The office of commandant is 

 much coveted by the officers of the line who come to Angola, not 

 so much for the salary as for the perquisites, which, when managed 

 skilfully, in the course of a few years make one rich. An idea 

 may be formed of the conduct of some of these officials from the 

 following extract from the Boletim of Loanda of the 28th of 

 October, 1854. 



" The acting governor-general of the province of Angola and 

 its dependencies determines as follows. 



" Having instituted an investigation (Syndecancia) against the 

 commandant of the fort of , a captain of the army of Por- 

 tugal hi commisssion in this province, , on account of nume- 

 rous complaints, which have come before this Government, of 

 violences and extortions practised by the said commandant, and 

 those complaints appearing by the result of the investigation to 

 be well founded, it will be convenient to exonerate the captain 

 referred to, from the command of the fort of , to which ho 



