ous
native fishermen, who supply the city with abundance of good fish daily.
The space between it and the main land, on which the city is built, is
the station for ships. When a high southwest wind blows, the waves of
the ocean dash over part of the island, and, driving large quantities of
sand before them, gradually fill up the harbor. Great quantities of soil
are also washed in the rainy season from the heights above the city,
so that the port, which once contained water sufficient to float the
largest ships close to the 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 consumed in Loanda is brought from the River Bengo
by means of launches, the only supply that the city affords being from
some deep wells of slightly brackish water. Unsuccessful attempts have
been made 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 water from the River Coanza to the city. There is not
a single English merchant at Loanda, and only two American. This is the
more remarkable, as nearly all the commerce is carried on by means
of English calico brought hither via Lisbon. Several English houses
attempted to establish a trade about 1845, and accepted bills on Rio de
Janeiro in payment for their goods, but the increased activity of our
cruisers had such an effect upon the mercantile houses of that city that
most of them failed. The English merchants lost all, and Loanda got a
bad name in the commercial world in consequence.

One of the arrangements of the custom-house may have had some influence
in preventing English trade. Ships coming here must be consigned to some
one on the spot; the consignee receives one hundred dollars per mast,
and he generally makes a great deal more for himself by putting a
percentage on boats and men hired for loading and unloading, and on
every item that passes through his hands. The port charges are also
rendered heavy by twenty dollars being charged as a perquisite of the
secretary of government, with a fee for the chief physician, something
for the hospital, custom-house officers, guards, etc., etc. But, with
all these drawbacks, the Americans carry on a brisk and profitable trade
in calico, biscuit, flour, butter, etc., etc.

The Portuguese home government has not generally received the credit for
sincerity in suppressing the s