The trade of Lourenço Marques
«Accustomed as we are to regard Delagoa Bay as a formidable competing port in its relation towards the trade of the Transvaal, we are apt to exaggerate the real proportions of the trade done there. Through the courtesy of Mr. de Costa we are able to give the following summary of the monthly returns of trade at Lourenço Marques for the present year:{26}
| Importation £ | Exportation £ | |
| January | 3:211 7 0 | 705 12 0 |
| February | 2:482 3 0 | 2:826 1 0 |
| March | 6:982 7 0 | 1:727 15 0 |
| April | 7:521 8 0 | 2:147 5 0 |
| May | 10:924 0 0 | 1:651 18 0 |
| June | 1:434 2 0 | 3:759 9 0 |
| July | 9:184 7 0 | 1:846 1 0 |
| August | 10:051 1 0 | 133 11 0 |
| September | 5:472 5 0 | 4:284 11 0 |
«These figures differ from those of preceding years in this respect—that they cover the period of temporary inflation caused by «Moodie's Rush» and the Lydenburg Gold Fields generally. Yet what are the facts? For the nine months of this year all the imports through Delagoa Bay only reached a value of £56:263, while the exports only reached a total £19:082 being a monthly average of £6:251 in the one case and of £2:120 in the other. Thus, carrying on the average, the entire import trade of the rival port represents, so far, a yearly value £75:014 only. There is not much in these figures to cause dismay. No abnormal diversion of trade has yet taken place, and in the absence of a line of railway we are not likely under existing circumstances to see much improvement in these figures. Were any power other than Portugal to establish itself at Delagoa Bay the case might be different; but so long as the present regime abides at the northern port we can afford to go on our way steadily, seeking to conserve and to retain whatever trade we at present command.»
E outro mais grave publicado em o numero de 20 de janeiro ultimo.