MR STANLEY'S MISSION.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2863, 18 April 1878, Page 2

MR STANLEY'S MISSION.

The Journey Homtwud.

From Loanda to 2fetaL

(FBOM THK DAILY TILXGIAPH, FSB. 7.)

TO THX EDITOIS OF THI DAILY TSLIGBATS

AND KKW TOKK HEBi.II).

(Continued from our last.)

Mr Robert Newton, a Scotch gentle* man, doing a thriving business at Loanda —of the firm of Newton, Carnegie, and Co.—a specimen of the indcmitability and enterprise which distinguishes Anglo* Saxon merchants in new lands—has laid me under an enormous number of obligations. I could not speak too highly of him, because whatever I might say would be sure to be echoed bj every English* speaking man who has been to Loanda of late years. I really think he is sworn to I make every one who may come in contact with him feel that he is obliged to him. Such apushing.enterprising.energetieman with his sugar estates, his Cwanza Hirer steamers, and his prosperous mercaa\tUe business in the city, must contribute greatly towards the prosperity of a small city like Loanda. One needs only listen to a practical man like Mr Newton to understand very clearly how it is that the Portuguese hare been able to improve their African possessions so c little. I did attempt to defend the Portuguese, but all I could adranee was completely crushed by the overwhelming - evidence against them. He said, in words something like thii, " The Portuguese do '. not know how to improve their colonies. They strangle all just and honest effort to increase business by their foolish and unjust protective tariffs and commercial restrictions, and their insane Custom House rules. They, know little about business themselves; and those who do know, and are willing to engage large capital in business in Angola, become disgusted by their arrogant and insane talk. I cannot have the slightest interview upon business with Custom House officials, but I am detained for three or four hours about a matter whieh, with a practical people, might be despatched in five minutes."

Loauda is not a city to be coreted. I am struck by the want of wisdom whisk tbe old Portuguese founders of African colonies hare shown, whether on the west or on the east coasts. The harbor is good enough, and they erected some rery fine buildings in the town. I suppose they hare done their best But the influences of Loanda, unless backed by tbe Home Gorerntnent, hare but little effect on the interior of Africa. -Let the Portuguese Goreruor-General be erer to clerer and energetic, he can make nothing

more of it than a small city, decently kept, if you will, with a fine aspect from the sea, the chief city of the colony, bat dependent entirely for a very large number of years yet to come upon the small, narrow country that flanks the road to Cassayo and a few other places. Loanda, ft city of ,12,000 inhabitants, has a very Eroud look as yon approach the fortified eights and terraces from seaward, but its prido is beggarly. Its look means nothing ; except poverty, emptiness and a conceit founded upon its traditions. It does not seem to evoke that paternal solicitude for its welfare that ■trike3 one throughout Knglish colonies. The Government has erected torts, custom houses of course, hospitals, too, as you may imagine ; and above all, has sent bis Excellency the Governor with a suite of officers and a few troops; but that is all or nearly all. It used to bo a subject of pride to Loanda that some one had planted 500 fruit trees, had laid out plazas, constructed markets, had made Macadamised roads; but it never struck me that all this had been done. These things, however, may invisibly exist. I was sorry for Loanda, and its neglect of the several inches of sand covering the street/fiintil they seemed pathways in the Libyan desert—so astonished at its want of water to drink, and water to wash; Iso pitied the appearance of decay in her cathedral and churches ; was so offended with the filthy beach and the filthiersmelling plazas, and so surprised at the apathy and the " who cares" look of everybody and everything—a kind of reckless, extravagant, unreasonable unthriftiness of everybody and everything— that I forgot to ask if the 500 fruit trees prospered. It appeared to me that the only special object of care for Govern- j ment, Governor-General, and colonists was the cemetery. It was indisputably apparent that the dead received more attention than the living. I saw that the poor living were starving, that their faces were rutted with hunger, that they were miserably clad, even to shame; while the cemetery, with its dismal, doleful associations, was attended to with a zeal for neat- j ness bordering upon fanaticism. Perhaps some one will accuse me of ingratitude to Loanda and its people, for he will remind me of princely favors bestowed on me and mine while residing there. There are fools in all parts of the world, with mouths ever open to ask foolish questions. The truth is I have been thinking how I can best repay all the kindness and hospitality I enjoyed at Loanda. Ido not think Serpa Pinto, Brito Capello, and Lieutenant Iveris, my" associates of the Loanda Geographical Society, ever intended to purchase my silence respecting the withering contempt with which one of the richest gems in the crown of Portugal has been treated by. the Home GoTernment. They intended, knowing the interest I felt in the sad continent, that I should speak the truth, and endeavour to rouse the Ministers at Lisbon to a sense of what is due to Angola and Loanda. It is evident that the gallant little State has abundance of life in it yet, despite its antiquity, and the natural disposition of the children of grand old fathers to dwell fondly over glorious traditions. The exploring expodition of Serpa Pinto was not despatched by an effete Government. The sentimmts that I havi heard eminent Portuguese deliver at their banquets did not emanate from hbpe'ess hearts, WJbat Portugal should Bo is to send 5000 soldiers to Angola* to maintain the freedom &&£ sefitiri&jr oibst r<s*dUt» in construct good roads to all parts of the colony, to define by surrey clearly her territory, asd then, to govern the country with, a due regard to jasfieei suppression of fraud* moral etevation of the people, while keuplog a constant watchful eye over the officers of justice and government, to whom she has entrusted the welfare of her colony. Should Portugal be induced to do this, Angola will soon shake off the state of depression and despondency she is now in, and become a credit and honor to her zulers. !

While I was at Lqanda 150 emigrants armed there, with a view to obtain employment. * These emigrants came from Brazil! From the richest portion of South America tbey came to seek their fortunes in wretched and neglected Angola. The Portuguese Government is about to construct a railroad from Loanda to CaltimbOj on the Kwanza river. Strange to say, Taldez reports the same in his " Six Years' Travels," published in 1861. It is about to construct an aqueduct or canal to convey fresh drinkable water from the Bengo liiver to the city. This also is a very ancient suggestion, but from its concoption to the present time it has remained a suggestion. iVlany valuable schemes for the improvement of Angola have been discussed, but the discussions, unfortunately, never pro-, duced anything more than a cordial understanding that the schemes were valuable. I did my beat to discover whether the Portuguese at Loanda retain jet a liagerlng Fondness lot the cruel loxupy of t!aT«-ifa«yJ!i& .Yati mil fiftdt many ysko. entertain the ideas of some people here regarding tae negro, that is to say, a vast aad immeasurable ce»tsin!)t for that unfortunate feeing i fcbafc it is almost hope* to en&eavonr to better Ills intellectual condition j that all he is good lor is id he centered bUh§t and ihiihsp&t ike caprice of the white man, to fee exported to climes where the white is recognised as supremOj to laboar and toil for masters who despise him. You will also meet men at Loanda who are good and just enough to be permitted to exchange sentiments with a

Livingstone, who would make it uncomcommonly hot for any man who should claim to own a human being, because he

bad purchased, or half inherited him. I have met such men at Loanda—l could even name them. OneisAlbuquaerque.the Governor-General. "VVhafc is done on the frontiers of the territory I would not answer for; but this I will say, that •whatever trade in natives may go on is transacted with the consent or knowledge < of the officials. lam not simply writing my views, beliefs, and opinions, but I really am quoting also those of English and American officials. They say no one would dare brave the severity of the law and the present officials who exercise the law. They add that Portugal is in earnest; that the slave trade is a thing of the past; and slavery is dying out. A month, after our arrival at Loanda appeared an English man-of-war, the Sea Gull, Commander Maxwell Heron; then the Danae, Captain J. C. Purvis; next the Industry, Commander E. C. Dyer; and lastly the Avon, Commander Keppel, with the British Consul, David Hoskins, JiJsq-, returning from the punishment of the .Niger pirates, or steamboat robbers, on that river. The Industry was bound for the Cape of Good Hope, and Captain Purvis, upon learning that I was anxious to return with my people to Zanzibar,

very kindly offered a pnssage to tho wearied Expedition as far as the Cape, which was gladiy accepted Captain Dyer upon receiving instructions from the senior oOlccr of tho consi to convey tho Expedition, informed mo that a deck should be constructed bclo.v in tho forehold, and gave mo iuformmion as lo certain necessaries that would bo required for the people on the voyage. The deck aud provisions, blankets and clothes, coat me pearly £700. Meantime four of the men had died at Loanda from the effects of the famine and fatigue, and three died at Kabinda. There were many others who wero hovering on the verge of tho grave. 'I he Governor General and Town Council of Loanda seconded my endeavors to restoro them to health. Seiiors Capello and Serpa Pinto were also indefatigable. Dr Lopez, the inosfc skilful physician, according to the opinion of foreigners resident at Loanda, prescribed medicine; some were sent to hospital, and skilled nurses attended those who preferred to live with their fellows. Under such treatment many recovered quickly, but there were many also, the day wo embarked on board Her Majesty's ship Industry, that would constantly require (lie attention of the surgeon and assistant. The diseases were general debility, dysenteric affections, scurvy, and ulcers. My expenses at Loanda were rery heavy. Some. 400 dollars in cash had also been distributed amongst my men. Serpa Pinto had taken me to a store, and had quietly permitted me to select what I thought I could afford to give as presents of warm, suitable clothing to my people, and when I wished to pay for it he refused, and begged that he should have'the honor of bestowing it. On departing from Loanda I was informed that tho Government of Angola regarded the Expedition as its guests, aud that there was nothing to pay !

To be continued.