I've tried to compile and run the following simple program:

#include <stdio.h>
int main() { printf("Ok\n"); return(0); }

I used the command:

        cc -o try -O -pipe -DAPPLLIB_EXP="/usr/local/lib/perl5/5.8.8/BSDPAN" -DHAS_FPSETMASK -DHAS_FLOATINGPOINT_H -fno-strict-aliasing -pipe -I/usr/local/include -Wl,-E -L/usr/local/lib try.c -lnsl -lgdbm -ldb -lm -lcrypt -lutil
         ./try

and I got the following output:

/usr/libexec/elf/ld: cannot find -lnsl
I can't compile the test program.
You have a BIG problem.  Shall I abort Configure [y]
Ok.  Stopping Configure.
===>  Script "Configure" failed unexpectedly.
Please report the problem to tobez@FreeBSD.org [maintainer] and attach the
"/usr/ports/lang/perl5.8/work/perl-5.8.8/config.log" including the output of
the failure of your make command. Also, it might be a good idea to provide
an overview of all packages installed on your system (e.g. an `ls
/var/db/pkg`).
*** Error code 1

Stop in /usr/ports/lang/perl5.8.