a kingdom of Loango in Africa, bound- ed on the north by Caongo, and on the south by Congo; from the former of which it is separated by the river Cabinda, and from the latter by the river Zaire. It is but of small extent; being only a vassal province of Caongo, till the mani or prince, who had married a Portuguese's daughter, was persuaded by his father-in-law to make himself independent. This he effected at a favourable juncture, the king of Loango having but just before revolted from the king of Congo, and the king of Caongo from the new king of Loango.

The country is full of woods and thickets; and has no towns of any note, except one called Bomangoy, situated on the north bank of the Zaire, and not far from its mouth. Its chief port is Cabinda, called also Kabenda, or Cubenda, situated on the mouth of a river of the same name, about five leagues north of Cape Palmerino, on the north side of the Zaire's mouth. The bay is very commodious for trade, or wooding and watering along the shore. It is flat and marshy in some places; but ascends gradually about three miles inland, and then forms itself into a ridge of hills. On the ascent of these is situated a town belonging to the father-in-law of the king above mentioned, where he constantly keeps a stock of wood ready cut, to sell to foreign ships at an easy rate. From these wood piles, south-west along the bay, lie scattered a number of fishermen's huts, on each side a small fresh-water river which falls into the bay; and thence all the water for ships is brought in casks to the mouth of the river, which is so shallow, that even at full flood it can only be entered by a yawl carrying a cask or two. The town stands on the round point of the bay looking to the westward; and the English have a factory on the south-west of the road.

The country round the bay is mostly barren; owing chiefly to the laziness of the inhabitants, which often occasions a scarcity of provisions. The wild beasts swarm so in the woods, that they destroy all the tame kinds; so there are no cattle bred here but hogs. From the woods in this country some monkeys have been brought away which in shape and stature resembled the human species. Civet cats abound here in great plenty, and parrots may be bought for three or four ordinary knives. The coasts abound so with oysters, that the sailors quickly load their boats with them; they being found lying in great heaps like small rocks. The natives follow the occupation of fishing more than any other. They fish both in the sea and in the rivers, making use of drag nets, which have long canes fixed at equal distances, instead of corks, to show when any fish is caught. These nets are made of a peculiar kind of root, which, after being beaten, may be spun like hemp.

The dress of the inhabitants is the same with that of the Congolese. They allow polygamy, and the best beloved wife hath the command of the rest; but is not liable to be turned out, if she proves unfaithful. The ladies of the blood-royal have the privilege of choosing their husbands out of any, even the meanest rank; and have even the power of life and death over them; as likewise over their paramours, if any of them are caught tripping: but the husbands are by no means entitled to expect the same fidelity from their royal ladies. Women of the lower rank are obliged, when they receive a stranger, to admit him for a night or two into their embraces. This obliged the missionaries, who traveled through this country, to give notice of their approach to any of their houses, that none of the female sex might enter within their doors.—Their religion consists chiefly in a variety of superstitious customs; such as powdering their public and domestic idols with the dust of a kind of red wood, on the first day of the moon, and paying a kind of worship to that planet. If, on that night, it happens to shine clear and bright, they cry out, "Thus may I renew my life as thou dost;" but if the air is cloudy, they imagine the moon hath lost her virtue, and pay her no respect. We do not hear of their offering any sacrifices to their idols; though they commonly consult them about the success of their enterprises, thefts, or such like. The king of Congo still styles himself sovereign of Angoy; but the king of this little state pays neither tribute nor homage to any foreign power.