Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/76

62 SOUTH ANT» EAST AFRICA. The Cunene basin, which is reached after crossing the Chella Mountains, contains in its upper parts a few little outposts of the Portuguese dominion. These stations promise one day to acquire a certain importance as rallying points for immigrants, but have hitherto remained obscure hamlets. Even the military post of Caconda, lying on a plain traversed by a western affluent of the Upper Cunene, had till recently been almost abandoned by traders, the caravans of the Ganguella tribes conveying nothing but a little ivory and wax to this station. The Nanos, Iluambos, and other local tribes have withdrawn to a distance in order to avoid the oppressive imposts levied by the chefes who represent the Portuguese authority. Some of the sobas, or native chiefs, whose predecessors had regularly taken the oath of fidelity to the King of Portugal, lately refused to do so any longer, and the vast and fertile plain, which might easily support a population of a million, is said to have not more than eight thousand inhabitants. Nevertheless it seems impossible that such a favoured land can fail to become a flourishing agricultural and commercial region. At this mean altitude of about 5,400 feet above the sea the temperature is mild, and the country, if not entirely free from fever, as has been asserted, is at least relatively salubrious. Here all the plants of the temperate zone flourish by the side of a sub-tropical vegetation, and coffee would certainly succeed, to judge at least from the oriango, or will species, found growing in +he forests. In its vegetation, its running waters, and genial climate, Caconda (5,650 feet) is a land of promise, which some Transvaal Boers have already vi>ited in order to study its resources and found settlements. Several Portuguese, mostly convicts, own a few gardens planted round about a little fort which dates from the seven- teenth century. The Portuguese administration is also now engaged in improv- ing the highways leading from Caconda and the Upper Cunene north-westwards in the direction of Benguella. The station of Iluilla, at the eastern foot of the Chella Mountains, has recently outstripped Caconda, thanks to its greater relative proximity to the sea-coast, and to the arrival of some Dutch settlers from Transvaal. A Catholic mission under French control has also established itself at Huilla, where the priests have founded a college for educating the children of the traders residing on the coast. The dwellings are surrounded by gardens growing European plants, and avenues of the eucalyptus fringe the banks of the torrent which flows to the Caculovar, chief affluent of the Cunene. On a terrace to the north of Huilla has been founded San-Januario, the principal Boer station, which also takes the name of Humpata from the surround- injj district. Here are scattered the neat little cabins with wooden frames, thatched roof, and cowdung floor, built by the Afrikanders on the model of their Transvaal dwellings. During this long trek, or exodus from their southern homes, the Boers had to endure great hardships and privations, as they drove their herds before them, plodding wearily from pasturage to pasturage, sojourning for months together in some more favoured localities in order to recruit their strength, but again exposing themselves to the inclemency of the weather, and