ECLIPSE OP THE SUN, 
269 
•Mr • Canto mentioned that there is now mnch moro cot- 
ton in tho country than can bo consumed; and if ho had 
possession of a few hundred pounds ho would buy up all 
too oil and cotton at a fair price, and thereby bring about 
a Solution in the agriculture of tho country. These 
oonimoditics aro not produced in greater quantity, because 
too pooplo havo no market for thoso which now spring 
n p almost spontaneously around them. The jbovo was 
Pot down in my journal when I had no idoa that enlarged 
Applies of cotton from new sources were so much ncoded 
at homo. 
It is common to cut down cotton-trees as a nuisance, 
aod cultivate beans, potatoes, and manioc sufficient only 
or their own consumption. I havo the impression that 
cotton, which is deciduous in America, is perennial hero; 
, 0r the plants I saw in winter were not dead, though going 
y tho name Algodiio Americana, or American cotton. Tho 
r cnts paid for gardens belonging to tho old convonts aro 
merely nominal, varying from one shilling to threo pounds 
P er annum. The higher rents being realized from thoso 
ln the immediate vicinity of Loanda, nono but Portuguese 
0r half-castes can pay them. 
When about to start, tho horso which tho governor had 
mdly presented for Sckclotu was seized with inflamma- 
^ 0T1 > ^hich delayed us somo time longor; and wo ultimately 
November 20. — An eclipse of tho sun, which I had 
“piously hoped to observe with a viow of determining 
0 ' on gitudo, happened this morning, and, as often took 
P? co ' n this cloudy climate, the sun was covered four 
,r >utes beioro it began. When it shono forth, the eclipse 
as in progress, and a few minutes beforo it should 
according to my calculations) havo ended tho sun was 
S a m completely obscured. Tho groatest patience and 
^severance are required if one wishes to ascertain his 
Petition when it is tho rainy season. 
°fore leaving, I had an opportunity of observing a 
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