arbitrary build can't find libs - right way to do this?

[Steve Bertrand]

> I'd love to (submit a port), but how do I make a port if I can't even
> get it to work the first time myself?
>     configure --includedir=/usr/local/include doesn't work;
>     export CPATH =/usr/local/include doesn't work;
>     export CPPFLAGS -l/usr/local/include doesn't work;
>     I've checked the permissions,
>     and I can see the file right there, but configure/gcc can't.  The
> developer swears something must be 'different' about freebsd because
> his gcc finds the same file in /usr/local/include.  Appears his system
> is gentoo...

Would you be able to provide access to a tarball of what you are trying
to compile/install for external testing so more eyeballs can see?

Steve