DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 139 
guage, manners, and government, are entirely si- 
milar throughout the whole of this extensive region. 
There are two routes, by which, after passing 
Cape Verd, vessels may reach the coast of Angola. 
One consists in turning to the east, and following 
the coast, till they reach Cape Lopez Gonsalvo. 
This is the most direct line, and when circumstan- 
ces are favourable, makes by much the speediest 
voyage ; but vessels are liable to be detained for 
a very long time, by unfavourable currents. The 
other route is by sailing south-west, till they almost 
touch the coast of Brasil, when a favourable wind 
and tide carries them directly across to Congo. 
This route necessarily occupies a considerable space 
of time ; but it is liable to no casualty ; and its 
duration may be calculated almost to a day. The 
first route is generally preferred, the sailors insist- 
ing, that its only danger is, they may possibly be 
detained as long by it, as they will certainly be by 
the other. Degrandpre is rather of a different 
opinion ; having known voyages protracted, by ad- 
verse currents, to a very inconvenient length. 
The soil of Congo is hard, compact, heavy, and 
extremely fertile. All the country, whether moun- 
tain or plain, is equally composed of earth, cover- 
ed with the most luxuriant verdure. Our author 
pierced it at various points, to the depth of six 
feet, in the view of discovering rock or stone, but 
always without success ; so that no country can af- 
