I Looked At The Furniture, Couches,
And Large Chests For Holding The Provisions Of The Brotherhood With Interest,
And Would
Fain have learned something of the former occupants;
but all the books and sacred vessels had lately been removed to
Loanda,
and even the graves of the good men stand without any record:
their resting-places are, however, carefully tended.
All speak well of the Jesuits and other missionaries, as the Capuchins, etc.,
for having attended diligently to the instruction of the children.
They were supposed to have a tendency to take the part of the people
against the government, and were supplanted by priests,
concerning whom no regret is expressed that they were allowed to die out.
In viewing the present fruits of former missions, it is impossible
not to feel assured that, if the Jesuit teaching has been so permanent,
that of Protestants, who leave the Bible in the hands of their converts,
will not be less abiding. The chief Bango has built a large two-story house
close by the convent, but superstitious fears prevent him from sleeping in it.
The Portuguese take advantage of all the gradations into which native society
has divided itself. This man, for instance, is still a sova or chief,
has his councilors, and maintains the same state as when the country
was independent. When any of his people are guilty of theft,
he pays down the amount of goods stolen at once, and reimburses himself
out of the property of the thief so effectually as to be benefited by
the transaction. The people under him are divided into a number of classes.
There are his councilors, as the highest, who are generally
head men of several villages, and the carriers, the lowest free men.
One class above the last obtains the privilege of wearing shoes
from the chief by paying for it; another, the soldiers or militia,
pay for the privilege of serving, the advantage being that
they are not afterward liable to be made carriers. They are also divided
into gentlemen and little gentlemen, and, though quite black,
speak of themselves as white men, and of the others, who may not wear shoes,
as "blacks". The men of all these classes trust to their wives for food,
and spend most of their time in drinking the palm-toddy. This toddy
is the juice of the palm-oil-tree (`Elaeis Guineensis'), which, when tapped,
yields a sweet, clear liquid, not at all intoxicating while fresh, but,
when allowed to stand till the afternoon, causes inebriation and many crimes.
This toddy, called malova, is the bane of the country. Culprits are
continually brought before the commandants for assaults committed
through its influence. Men come up with deep gashes on their heads;
and one, who had burned his father's house, I saw making a profound bow
to Mr. Canto, and volunteering to explain why he did the deed.
There is also a sort of fraternity of freemasons, named Empacasseiros,
into which no one is admitted unless he is an expert hunter,
and can shoot well with the gun. They are distinguished
by a fillet of buffalo hide around their heads, and are employed as messengers
in all cases requiring express. They are very trustworthy, and,
when on active service, form the best native troops the Portuguese possess.
The militia are of no value as soldiers, but cost the country nothing,
being supported by their wives. Their duties are chiefly
to guard the residences of commandants, and to act as police.
The chief recreations of the natives of Angola are marriages and funerals.
When a young woman is about to be married, she is placed in a hut alone
and anointed with various unguents, and many incantations are employed
in order to secure good fortune and fruitfulness. Here, as almost every where
in the south, the height of good fortune is to bear sons.
They often leave a husband altogether if they have daughters only.
In their dances, when any one may wish to deride another,
in the accompanying song a line is introduced, "So and so has no children,
and never will get any." She feels the insult so keenly
that it is not uncommon for her to rush away and commit suicide.
After some days the bride elect is taken to another hut,
and adorned with all the richest clothing and ornaments that the relatives
can either lend or borrow. She is then placed in a public situation,
saluted as a lady, and presents made by all her acquaintances are placed
around her. After this she is taken to the residence of her husband,
where she has a hut for herself, and becomes one of several wives,
for polygamy is general. Dancing, feasting, and drinking on such occasions
are prolonged for several days. In case of separation,
the woman returns to her father's family, and the husband receives back
what he gave for her. In nearly all cases a man gives a price for the wife,
and in cases of mulattoes, as much as 60 Pounds is often given
to the parents of the bride. This is one of the evils the bishop was trying
to remedy.
In cases of death the body is kept several days, and there is a grand
concourse of both sexes, with beating of drums, dances, and debauchery,
kept up with feasting, etc., according to the means of the relatives.
The great ambition of many of the blacks of Angola is to give their friends
an expensive funeral. Often, when one is asked to sell a pig,
he replies, "I am keeping it in case of the death of any of my friends."
A pig is usually slaughtered and eaten on the last day of the ceremonies,
and its head thrown into the nearest stream or river.
A native will sometimes appear intoxicated on these occasions,
and, if blamed for his intemperance, will reply, "Why! my mother is dead!"
as if he thought it a sufficient justification.
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