Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/50

80 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. settlements in the Mossamedes district, which already lies 1,000 miles south of the equator, here enjoy a relatively cool atmosphere, which is, at the same time, far less humid than that either of Loanda or of Benguella. Hence, instances of successful acclimatisation are here frequent enough, not only in the case of individuals but of family groups. Many natives of Portugal have reared a healthy offspring, with rosy cheeks and vigorous constitution. The race has here been perpetuated, although hitherto the mortality has normally exceeded the birth-rate ; and if few young girls are seen in Mossamedes, it is because they also emigrate, called away to found new homes in the other coast towns. The climate, which " eliminates " in the north, may thus be said to "assimi- late" in the southern province of Angola; and if while families can here maintain themselves on the seaboard, they naturally find still less difficulty in doing so on the breezy upland valleys of the interior. An irregular line embracing the whole of the Cunene bas n as far as the plateau separating it from the slopes draining to the Cuanza and Kwango rivers, roughly indicates the portion of the Portuguese possessions which has already become to a small extent a region of permanent colonisation. North of this parting line the territory can never become a colony in the strict sense of the term, and must always remain a mere ix)litical dependency useful only for its natural resources. The Portuguese are not the only whites who have begun to seek new homes in thrt southern parts of Angola. The immigration from the north has in recent times been increased by a corresponding movement from the j^outh of Africa. The Boers, descendants of the early Dutch settlers and of a few French Huguenot refugees, have continued as far as Angola the gradual northward advance begun by them some two centuries ago on the extreme southern shores of the continent. Steadily pushing forward from station to station, their farthest outposts have already reached the plateaux watered by the Upper Cunene. Notwithstanding the difficulties attending a first settlement, and despite the conflicts which have temporarily arrested and even driven back the onward movement, there can be no doubt that the Boers will ultimately secure a permanent footing in the Portu- guese territory, and thus contribute to the setvlement and progress of the country. Nor is this all, for in the general spread of European ideas, customs, and industries, account must also be taken of the Brazilian immigrants from the New World, who are partly Portuguese by descent, and altogether by language and social institutions. Most of them are certainly of mixed origin, and while they may claim to be Europeans on the father's side, as well as by name and family traditions, they must also be regarded as Africans in virtue of their maternal descent. These civilised half-castes thus constitute a natural intermediate element between the pure whites and the Negroes, between the colonists and the natives. Some share in the general civilisation of the country is also taken by the hybrid Hindus from Goa, chiefly priests, traders, and teachers, who are commonly known as " Canarians," because mainly immigrants from the district of Canara, on the west coast of India. The economic and social conditions of Angola have been completely revolu-