Chap. XXI. 
PUXGO AXDONGO. 
419 
had been nominated by the Portfolio of tins general Government, 
No. 41, of 27th December of the past year; and if not otherwise 
determined, the same official shall be judged by a council of war 
for the criminal acts, which are to liim attributed.’’ 
Even this pubhc mention of his crimes, attaches no stigma to the 
man’s character. The council of war, by wliich these delinquents 
always prefer to be judged, is composed of men who eagerly ex¬ 
pect to occupy the post of commandant themselves, and anticipate 
them own trial for similar acts at some future time. The severest 
sentence a council of war awards, is a few weeks’ suspension from 
office in his regiment. 
This want of official integrity, wliich is not at all attributable 
to the Home Government of Portugal, would prove a serious im¬ 
pediment in the way of foreign enterprise developuig the resources 
of this rich province. And to this cause indeed, may be ascribed 
the failure of the Portuguese laws for the entire suppression of 
the slave-trade. The officers ought to receive higher pay, if 
integrity is expected from them. At present, a captain’s pay for 
a year, will only keep him in good uniform. The liigh pay our 
own officers receive, has manifest advantages. 
Before leaving Ambaca, we received a present of ten head of 
cattle from Mr. Schut of Loanda, and, as it shows the cheapness 
of provisions here, I may mention that the cost was only about a 
guinea per head. 
On crossing the Lucalla, we made a detour to the south, in 
order to visit the famous rocks of Pungo Andongo. As soon as 
we crossed the rivulet Lotete, a change in the vegetation of the 
country was apparent. We found trees identical with those to be 
seen south of the Chobe. The grass too stands in tufts, and is of 
that kind which the natives consider to be best adapted for cattle. 
Two species of grape-bearing vines abound everywhere in this 
district, and the influence of the good pasturage is seen in the 
plump condition of the cattle. In aU my previous inquiries 
respecting the vegetable products of Angola I was invariably 
directed to Pungo Andongo. Do you grow wheat? ‘‘ 0 yes, 
in Pungo Andongo.”—Grapes, figs, or peaches? 0 yes, in 
Pungo Andongo.”—Do you make butter, cheese, &c. ? The 
uniform answer was, “ 0 yes, there is abundance of aU these in 
Pungo Andongo.” But when we arrived here, we found that the 
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