BANKS OF THE I.UCAJXA. 377 



and subsistence are, however, so very cheap that almost 

 any amount of work can be executed, at a cost that 

 renders expensive establishments unnecessary. 



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

 employment 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 appropriation of a few thou- 

 sands of a small fresh-water fish, called " cacusu," a portion 

 of the tax levied upon the fishermen of the Coanza. 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 " Peixemulher," or woman-fish, of 

 the Portuguese, which is probably a Manatee. 



The banks of the L,ucalla are very pretty, well planted 

 with orange-trees, bananas, and the palm (Elcsis Guin- 

 eensis) which yields the oil of commerce. Large planta- 

 tions of maize, manioc, and tobacco, are seen along both 

 banks, which are enlivened by the frequent appearance of 

 native houses embosomed 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 Lucalia becomes very level, 

 and large portions are left marshy after the annual floods ; 

 but all is very fertile. As an illustration of the strength 

 of the soil, I may state, that we saw tobacco-plants in 

 gardens near the confluence eight feet high, and each 

 plant had thirty-six leaves, which were eighteen inches 

 long by six or eight inches broad. But it is not a pastoral 

 district. In our descent we observed the tsetse, and con- 



