PRODUCING MANIOC. 397 



alluvial soils, and either well supplied with rain or annually- 

 flooded, twelve, or even ten months are sufficient to 

 bring it to maturity. The root rasped while raw, placed 

 upon a cloth, and rubbed with the hands while water is 

 poured upon it, parts with its starchy glutinous matter, 

 and this, when it settles at the bottom of the vessel, and 

 the water poured off, is placed in the sun till nearly dry, 

 to form tapioca. The process of drying is completed on 

 an iron plate over a slow fire, the mass being stirred 

 meanwhile with a stick, and when quite dry it appears 

 agglutinated into little globules, and is in the form we see 

 the tapioca of commerce. This is never eaten by weevils, 

 and so little labour is required in its cultivation, that on 

 the spot it is extremely cheap. Throughout the interior 

 parts of Angola, fine manioc-meal, which could with ease 

 have been converted either into superior starch or tapioca, 

 is commonly sold at the rate of about ten pounds for a 

 penny. All this region, however, has no means of trans- 

 port to I/oanda, other than the shoulders of the carriers 

 and slaves, over a footpath. 



Cambambe, to which the navigation of the Coanza 

 reaches, is reported to be thirty leagues below Pungo 

 Andongo. A large waterfall is the limit on that side ; 

 and another exists higher up, at the confluence of the 

 Lombe (lat. 9 41' 26" S., and about long. 16 K.), over 

 which hippopotami and elephants are sometimes drawn 

 and killed. The river between is rapid, and generally 

 rushes over a rocky bottom. Its source is pointed out as 

 S.B. or S.S.B. of its confluence with the Iyombe, and near 

 Bihe. The situation of Bihe is not well known. When at 

 Sanza, we were assured that it lies nearly south of that 

 point, and eight days distant. This statement seemed to 

 be corroborated by our meeting many people going to 

 Matiamvo and to Loanda from Bihe. Both parties had 

 come to Sanza, and then branched off, one to the east, the 

 other to the west. The source of the Coanza is thus 

 probably not far from Sanza. 



I had the happiness of doing a little good in the way of 

 administering to the sick, for there are no doctors in the 

 interior of Angola. Notwithstanding the general healthi- 

 ness of this fine district, and its pleasant temperature. I 

 was attacked by fever myself. While confined to my 

 room, a gentleman of colour, a canon of the church, kindly 

 paid me a visit. He was on a tour of visitation in the 



