Owing to the weakness of the men who had been sick, we were able to march but short distances.  Three hours and a half brought us to the banks of the Caloi, a small stream which flows into the Senza.  This is one of the parts of the country reputed to yield petroleum, but the geological formation, being mica schist, dipping toward the eastward, did not promise much for our finding it.  Our hospitable friend, Mr. Mellot, accompanied us to another little river, called the Quango, where I saw two fine boys, the sons of the sub-commandant, Mr. Feltao, who, though only from six to eight years old, were subject to fever.  We then passed on in the bright sunlight, the whole country looking so fresh and green after the rains, and every thing so cheering, one could not but wonder to find it so feverish.

We found, on reaching Ambaca, that the gallant old soldier, Laurence Jose Marquis, had, since our passing Icollo i Bengo, been promoted, on account of his stern integrity, to the government of this important district.  The office of commandant is much coveted by the officers of the line who come to Angola, not so much for the salary as for the perquisites, which, when managed skillfully, in the course of a few years make one rich.  An idea may be formed of the conduct of some of these officials from the following extract from the Boletin of Loanda of the 28th of October, 1854: 

“The acting governor-general of the province of Angola and its dependencies determines as follows: 

“Having instituted an investigation (Syndecancia) against the commandant of the fort of——­, a captain of the army of Portugal in commission in this province,——­, on account of numerous complaints, which have come before this government, of violences and extortions practiced by the said commandant, and those complaints appearing by the result of the investigation to be well founded, it will be convenient to exonerate the captain referred to from the command of the fort of——­, to which he had been nominated by the portfolio of this 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 him attributed.”

Even this public mention of his crimes attaches no stigma to the man’s character.  The council of war, by which these delinquents always prefer to be judged, is composed of men who eagerly expect to occupy the post of commandant themselves, and anticipate their 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, which is not at all attributable to the home government of Portugal, would prove a serious impediment in the way of foreign enterprise developing 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 high pay our own officers receive has manifest advantages.