$76 RUINS OF AN IRON-FOUNDRY. 



have spread over the country, some have probably died 

 out, and others failed to spread, like a lonely specimen 

 which stands in what was the Botanic Garden of Loanda, 

 and, though most useful in yielding a substitute for frank- 

 incense, is the only one of the kind in Africa. 



A circumstance which would facilitate the extensive 

 propagation of the coffee on the proper clay soil, is this. 

 The seed, when buried beneath the soil, generally dies, 

 while that which is sown broadcast, with no covering 

 except the shade of the trees, vegetates readily. The 

 agent in sowing in this case is a bird, which eats the outer 

 rind, and throws the kernel on the ground. This plant 

 cannot bear the direct rays of the sun, consequently, when 

 a number of the trees are discovered in a forest, all that is 

 necessary is to clear away the brushwood, and leave as 

 many of the tall forest-trees as will afford good shade to 

 the coffee-plants below. The fortunate discoverer has 

 then a flourishing coffee plantation. 



This district, small though it be, having only a population 

 of 13,822, of whom ten only are white, nevertheless yields 

 an annual tribute to the Government of thirteen hundred 

 cotton cloths, each 5 feet by 18 or 20 inches, of their own 

 growth and manufacture. 



Accompanied by the Commandant of Cazengo, who 

 was well acquainted with this part of the country, I pro- 

 ceeded in a canoe down the river I/ucalla to Massangano. 

 This river is about 85 yards wide, and navigable for canoes 

 from its confluence with the Coanza, to about six miles 

 above the point where it receives the Luinha. Near this 

 latter point stand the strong massive ruins of an iron- 

 foundry, erected in the times (1768), and by the order, of 

 the famous Marquis of Pombal. The whole of the buildings 

 were constructed of stone, cemented with oil and lime. 

 The dam for water-power was made of the same materials, 

 and 27 feet high. This had been broken through by a 

 flood, and solid blocks, many yards in length, were carried 

 down the stream, affording an instructive example of the 

 transporting power of water. There was nothing in the 

 appearance of the place to indicate unhealthiness ; but 

 eight Spanish and Swedish workmen, being brought hither 

 for the* purpose of instructing the natives in the art of 

 smelting iron, soon fell victims to disease and " irregu- 

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

 of manufacturing iron was thus rendered abortive. labour 



