256 
ST. PAUL DE LOANDA. 
Thero aro various ovidonces of its former magnificence; 
especially two cathedrals, ono of which, once a Jesuit 
college, is now converted into a workshop ; and in passing 
the other wo saw with sorrow a numbor of oxen feeding 
within its stately walls. Thrco forts continue in a good 
state of repair. Many largo stone houses are to bo found. 
The palaco of the governor and Government offices are 
commodious structures, but nearly all tho houses of the 
nativo inhabitants aro of wattle and daub. Trees aro 
planted all over tho town for tho sako of shade, and tho 
city presents an imposing appearance from tho sea. It is 
provided with an effective polico, and tho custom-house 
department is oxtromcly well managed. All parties agreo 
in representing tho Portuguese authorities as both polito 
and obliging; and, if evor any inconvenience is felt by 
strangers visiting tho port, it must bo considered tho fault 
of tho system, and not of tho mon. 
Tho harbor is formed by tho low, sandy island of Loanda 
which is inhabited by about 1300 souls, upward of 600 of 
whom aro industrious nativo .fishermen, who supply the 
city with abundanco of good fish daily. Tho space between 
it and tho mainland, on which the city is built, is tho 
station for ships. When a high southwest wind blows, 
tho waves of tho ocean dash over part of the island, and, 
driving largo quantities of sand before them, gradually fill 
up tho harbor. Great quantities of soil aro also washed 
in thro rainy season from tho heights above tho city, so that 
the port, which onco contained water sufficient to float the 
largest ships close to tho custom-house, is now at low-water 
dry. The ships are compelled to anchor about a mile north 
of their old station. Nearly all the water oonsumod in 
Loanda is brought from tho river Bongo by means of 
launches, tho only supply that the city affords being from 
some deep wells of slightly-brackish water. Unsuccessful 
attempts have been mado by different governors to finish a 
canal which the Dutch, while in possession of Loanda 
during the seven years preceding 1648, had begun, to bring 
