Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/66

 extensive ground-nut and tobacco plantations of the surrounding district, to its position on the main caravan route penetrating fur into the kingdom of the Muato Yamvo, and possibly also to its past prestige. Ambaca was in fact formerly a populous and flourishing city, and the chief depôt and headquarters of the dealers who from that central point explored all the circumjacent lands in search of fresh markets. The Ambaquistas had become renowned throughout the Portuguese dominions for their wealth and enterprising spirit. Hence the needy servants of the crown intrigued and competed eagerly for promotion to a scarcely remunerative post, where they had every opportunity of rapidly making their fortunes. Such was their success that the inhabitants migrated, especially in the direction of Pungo-Ndongo, while trade sought ever fresh outlets. The

AmbaquistasMbundu people [sic] have thus become more numerous in the conterminous provinces than in their original home; nor can the projected railway fail to repeople the country and open up its great natural resources.

In the upper valley of the Lu-Caila there are no large towns. Even Duque de Bragança, or simply Duque, the most advanced Portuguese station towards the north-east of the Angolan territory, is a mere presidio, or military post, much dreaded on account of the neighbouring malarious swamps caused by the overflow of the river, which flows east of the plateau crowned by the fort. Hence, few troops are sent to this station except military convicts, who avenge themselves by levying blackmail on the natives, under the disguise of Government taxes. As at Pamba, the result of this system of administration has been the