After all, slaves are the worst and most expensive servants; and one proof of it is this, I think. The small patch that each is allowed to cultivate for his own use on many estates generally yields at least twice as much in proportion as the land of the master, though fewer hours of labour are bestowed upon it.[104] I have hitherto endeavoured, without success, to procure a correct statement of the number of slaves imported into all Brazil. I fear, indeed, it will be hardly possible for me to do so, on account of the distance of some of the ports; but I will not rest till I procure at least a statement of the number entered at the custom-house here during the last two years. The number of ships from Africa that I see constantly entering the harbour, and the multitudes that throng the slave-houses in this street, convince me that the importation must be very great. The ordinary proportion of deaths on the passage is, I am told, about one in five. [Note 104: Since I returned to England, I have seen the account of the proceedings of Joshua Steele in Barbadoes. I need not add one word on this part of the subject; but I present the reader with the two following statements of custom-house entries at Rio for the years 1821 and 1822. 1821. _January_ | _April_ | _October_ | Muzambique 483 | Angola 430 | Angola 452 | Muzambique 337 | Quilumana 280 | Angola 375 | Amhuebe 352 | Cabinda 287 | Benguela 510 | Cabinda 348 | Cabinda 451 | ---- | Luanda 549 | ---- | 1337 | Benuela 396 | 1448 | ---- | ---- | ---- | | 2914 | | | | _May_ | _November_ | ---- | | | _February_ | Angola 342 | Ambuiz 220 | Cabinda 193 | Angola 361 | Benguela 390 | ABSTRACT Cabinda 342 | Angola 231 | Angola 579 | OF 1821 Cabinda 514 | Quilumana 225 | Angola 544 | January 2914 Muzambique 277 | Muzambique 122 | Angola 388 | February 1926 Muzambique 600 | ---- | Quilumana 446 | March 3170 ---- | 1281 | ---- | April 1448 1926 | ---- | 2567 | May 1281 ---- | _June_ | ---- | June 680 _March_ | Angola 680 | | August 2578 Quilumana 311 | | _December_ | September 685 Quilumana 385 | _August_ | Angola 516 | October 1337 Quilumana 342 | Luanda 514 | Angola 523 | November 2567 Quilumana 257 | Luanda 460 | Angola 309 | December 2634 Quilumana 260 | Luanda 734 | Muzambique 394 | -----