WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA. 191 



250 miles in length, and 180 in breadth. The climate of this king- 

 dom is nearly as hot as any under the torrid zone, and much hotter 

 than those of Congo and Angola. Loango was formerly subject to, 

 and made a part of, the kingdom of Congo. 



Congo (or Lower Guinea) is the name frequently given to the whole 

 tract of country on the coast from the equator to 18 degrees of south 

 latitude, including the kingdoms of Loango, Congo, Angola, and Ben- 

 guela ; but Congo Proper is only 150 miles broad along the coast, 

 though it extends, it is said, 370 inland. It is bounded on the north 

 by Loango, on the south by Angola, and on the east by an unknown 

 country, the name of which is said to be Metamba. The climate is 

 extremely hot in summer; but the winters are as mild as the finest 

 springs of Italy. The animals it produces are elephants of a mon- 

 strous size, lions, leopards, tigers, wolves, zebras, buffaloes, &c. The 

 country is likewise infested with a vast variety of serpents, some of 

 them of a monstrous length and thickness ; rattle snakes, vipers 3 

 scorpions, and venomous insects of various kinds, both flying and 

 reptile ; the most pernicious and dangerous of which is the ant or 

 pismire, which will not only destroy the fruits of the earth, but in the 

 night surround even beasts and men in prodigious swarms, and 

 devour them in a few hours, leaving only the bones. The character^ 

 manners, religion, and government of the natives of Congo, nearly 

 resemble those of the negroe kingdoms on this coast. The Por- 

 tuguese have several settlements in this country. 



To the south of Congo is the country of Angola, which is said to be 

 divided among a number of petty princes. The Portuguese have 

 several settlements on the coast ; but the English and Dutch traffic 

 with the natives, and purchase a great number of slaves. 



Between Angola and the country of the Hottentots are the countries 

 of Benguela and Mataman ; but these are very little known to Euro- 

 peans, and the latter is almost entirely desert. 



