444 
SOUTHERN AFRICA, 
per day is considered good wages, by carpen- 
ters, smiths, potters, &c, as well as by com- 
mon labourers. The greatest drawback the 
population has, in developing the resources of 
the country, is the want of carriage roads for 
the conveyance of produce to markets. The 
slave-trade led to the neglect of every perma- 
nent source of wealth. All the merchandize of 
the interior, was transported on the heads and 
shoulders of the slaves, who, equally with the 
goods, were intended for exportation. And 
even since the traffic has been effectually re- 
pressed by the intervention of our cruisers, 
human labour for transport has alone been 
available. This is a most expensive and dila- 
tory system, as the merchants and persons of 
smaller means, on whose industry, access to a 
proper market would have a most beneficial 
effect, possess no stimulus for exertion in cul- 
tivation. Some use is made of the river Zenza, 
by means of canoes, and considerable trade is 
carried on between the districts on the Coanza 
and Loanda, by the same means ; but the bars 
at the mouths of both rivers, present serious 
obstacles to speedy transit. 
"The country still farther inland, becomes 
gradually more open. Ambaca presents an un- 
dulating surface, with ranges of mountains on 
each side of the distance. It possesses a great 
