124 Seven Years in Central Africa. [Dec. 
BENGUELLA. 
Benguella, November wth. — Mr. Walter, of the American 
Board Mission,'^ who is stationed here as business man for the 
Mission, has kindly offered to help me, and through him I can 
get trade articles at lower prices. 
December gih. — Benguella is a very quiet, unbusiness - like 
place. The custom-house duties are very heavy ; they average 
25 per cent, on everything, and this on the value of goods here^ 
not on invoice value, so that all goods imported are of necessity 
expensive. I should say that the place is unhealthy ; the Por- 
tuguese, at least, consider it so, as the most of their " degradadors" 
(convicts) are sent here, and all government officials while in 
office here, are reckoned as serving double time. It is not so at 
Loando. 
It seems as if the sea had thrown up a sand dyke, forming the 
present shore ; much of the country inside appears to be at a 
level lower than the sea ; consequently it has no drainage. 
Fortunately, little rain falls ; even now, though it is the rainy 
season, green spots are only to be seen in a few hollows. The 
heat is very great, but every afternoon a fresh breeze comes off 
the sea, which makes the evenings pleasant. I am in the best of 
health. 
May the Lord be pleased to look upon my work for His name's 
sake, and may I be in His hands like soft clay, impressible. 
Surely the one thing needful for perfect service is that we be 
susceptible to His sympathies and to the guidings of His Spirit. 
God will not guide and lead us into His work unless we first 
have hearts in sympathy with Him as to that work. So let us 
hang and wait upon God, that we may go forth as men " driven 
of the Spirit." 
EXPECTATION OF FELLOW-LABOURERS. 
I had now to consider seriously the advisability of returning to 
the interior alone, in case of no one coming forward to join me. 
On that subject I then wrote my impressions : 
I have a growing conviction that some one or two are being 
prepared for the work here, but any one will not do ; excuse my 
* American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions ; commonly 
■called "American Board." Mr. Walter has since left Africa. 
