Government and Revenue.—­The administration of the province is carried on under a governor-general, resident at Loanda, who acts under the direction of the ministry of the colonies at Lisbon.  At the head of each district is a local governor.  Legislative powers, save those delegated to the governor-general, are exercised by the home government.  Revenue is raised chiefly from customs, excise duties and direct taxation.  The revenue (in 1904-1905 about L350,000) is generally insufficient to meet expenditure (in 1904-1905 over L490,000)—­the balance being met by a grant from the mother country.  Part of the extra expenditure is, however, on railways and other reproductive works.

History.—­The Portuguese established themselves on the west coast of Africa towards the close of the 15th century.  The river Congo was discovered by Diogo Cam or Cao in 1482.  He erected a stone pillar at the mouth of the river, which accordingly took the title of Rio de Padrao, and established friendly relations with the natives, who reported that the country was subject to a great monarch, Mwani Congo or lord of Congo, resident at Bonza Congo.  The Portuguese were not long in making themselves influential in the country.  Goncalo de Sousa was despatched on a formal embassy in 1490; and the first missionaries entered the country in his train.  The king was soon afterwards baptized and Christianity was nominally established as the national religion.  In 1534 a cathedral was founded at Bonza Congo (renamed Sao Salvador), and in 1560 the Jesuits arrived with Paulo Diaz de Novaes.  Of the prosperity of the country the Portuguese have left the most glowing and indeed incredible accounts.  It was, however, about this time ravaged by cannibal invaders (Bangala) from the interior, and Portuguese influence gradually declined.  The attention of the Portuguese was, moreover, now turned more particularly to the southern districts of Angola.  In 1627 the bishop’s seat was removed to Sao Paulo de Loanda and Sao Salvador declined in importance.  In the 18th century, in spite of hindrances from Holland and France, steps were taken towards re-establishing Portuguese authority in the northern regions; in 1758 a settlement was formed at Encoje; from 1784 to 1789 the Portuguese carried on a war against the natives of Mussolo (the district immediately south of Ambriz); in 1791 they built a fort at Quincollo on the Loje, and for a time they worked the mines of Bembe.  Until, however, the “scramble for Africa” began in 1884, they possessed no fort or settlement on the coast to the north of Ambriz, which was first occupied in 1855.  At Sao Salvador, however, the Portuguese continued to exercise influence.  The last of the native princes who had real authority was a potentate known as Dom Pedro V. He was placed on the throne in 1855 with the help of a Portuguese force, and reigned over thirty years.  In 1888 a Portuguese resident was stationed at Salvador, and the kings of Congo became pensioners of the government.