BENGUELA

a little-known district belonging the Portuguese on the w. coast of South Africa, between lat. 11° and 17** 8., and bounded, Angola, E. by the Cunene Kiver, b. by Nourse's and w. by the Atlantic Ocean. The interior country is mountainous, the direction of the elevated lands 'being from N.E. to 8.W. It is well ws^tered, having numerouB springs and lakes, many latter brackish, and some salt; and being thickly tersected by rivers and streams. Its vegetation luxuriant, including every description of produce peculiar to tropical countries. The slopes mountains are covered with dense forests of palms, date-trees, tamarinds, . The vine, banana^ ananas, and other descriptions of tropical fruit, also abound. The soil is well adapted for production of grain; but from indolence and want «kill on the part of the natives, little is grown. larger and fiercer animals of the African wilds numerous in this district, such as lions, rhinoceroses, elephimts, and hippopotami. Zebras, deer, and lopes are likewise abtmdant. Horses are scaree, cattle, sheep, and goats plentiful. The ostrich the peacock are found here, the latter wild woods. Beptiles of all sorts, harmle and dangerous, are met with everywhere. The mineral wealth the district consists of copper, sulphur, petroleum, and crystals. Gold and silver have also been BENGUELA, a town on the w. coast of Africa, capital of the above district, on a bay of the Atlantic, in a charming but very imhealthy valley. It sists of well-built houses, for the most part of a story, and roofed with tiles. The streets are and regular, and lined on each side with fine Trade is very limited, and only shows some activity when the caravans arrive, bringing ivory, wax, copal, . Pop. estimated at 8000.