The Expenses Of Funerals
Are So Heavy That Often Years Elapse Before They Can Defray Them.
These people are said to be very litigious and obstinate:
constant disputes are taking place respecting their lands.
A case came before the weekly court of the commandant involving property
in a palm-tree worth twopence.
The judge advised the pursuer
to withdraw the case, as the mere expenses of entering it
would be much more than the cost of the tree. "Oh no," said he;
"I have a piece of calico with me for the clerk, and money for yourself.
It's my right; I will not forego it." The calico itself
cost three or four shillings. They rejoice if they can say of an enemy,
"I took him before the court."
My friend Mr. Canto, the commandant, being seized with fever in a severe form,
it afforded me much pleasure to attend HIM in his sickness,
who had been so kind to ME in mine. He was for some time
in a state of insensibility, and I, having the charge of his establishment,
had thus an opportunity of observing the workings of slavery.
When a master is ill, the slaves run riot among the eatables.
I did not know this until I observed that every time the sugar-basin
came to the table it was empty. On visiting my patient by night,
I passed along a corridor, and unexpectedly came upon the washerwoman
eating pine-apples and sugar. All the sweetmeats were devoured,
and it was difficult for me to get even bread and butter until I took
the precaution of locking the pantry door. Probably the slaves thought that,
as both they and the luxuries were the master's property,
there was no good reason why they should be kept apart.
Debarred by my precaution from these sources of enjoyment,
they took to killing the fowls and goats, and, when the animal was dead,
brought it to me, saying, "We found this thing lying out there."
They then enjoyed a feast of flesh. A feeling of insecurity
prevails throughout this country. It is quite common to furnish visitors
with the keys of their rooms. When called on to come to breakfast or dinner,
each locks his door and puts the key in his pocket. At Kolobeng
we never locked our doors by night or by day for months together;
but there slavery is unknown. The Portuguese do not seem at all bigoted
in their attachment to slavery, nor yet in their prejudices against color.
Mr. Canto gave an entertainment in order to draw all classes together
and promote general good-will. Two sovas or native chiefs were present,
and took their places without the least appearance of embarrassment.
The Sova of Kilombo appeared in the dress of a general, and the Sova of Bango
was gayly attired in a red coat, profusely ornamented with tinsel.
The latter had a band of musicians with him consisting of
six trumpeters and four drummers, who performed very well.
These men are fond of titles, and the Portuguese government humors them
by conferring honorary captaincies, etc.: the Sova of Bango
was at present anxious to obtain the title of "Major of all the Sovas".
At the tables of other gentlemen I observed the same thing
constantly occurring. At this meeting Mr. Canto communicated some ideas
which I had written out on the dignity of labor, and the superiority
of free over slave labor. The Portuguese gentlemen present
were anxiously expecting an arrival of American cotton-seed from Mr. Gabriel.
They are now in the transition state from unlawful to lawful trade,
and turn eagerly to cotton, coffee, and sugar as new sources of wealth.
Mr. Canto had been commissioned by them to purchase three sugar-mills.
Our cruisers have been the principal agents in compelling them
to abandon the slave-trade; and our government, in furnishing them
with a supply of cotton-seed, showed a generous intention to aid them
in commencing a more honorable course. It can scarcely be believed, however,
that after Lord Clarendon had been at the trouble of procuring
fresh cotton-seed through our minister at Washington, and had sent it out
to the care of H. M. Commissioner at Loanda, probably from having fallen
into the hands of a few incorrigible slave-traders, it never reached
its destination. It was most likely cast into the sea of Ambriz,
and my friends at Golungo Alto were left without the means of commencing
a new enterprise.
Mr. Canto mentioned that there is now much more cotton in the country
than can be consumed; and if he had possession of a few hundred pounds,
he would buy up all the oil and cotton at a fair price,
and thereby bring about a revolution in the agriculture of the country.
These commodities are not produced in greater quantity,
because the people have no market for those which now spring up
almost spontaneously around them. The above was put down in my journal
when I had no idea that enlarged supplies of cotton from new sources
were so much needed at home.
It is common to cut down cotton-trees as a nuisance, and cultivate beans,
potatoes, and manioc sufficient only for their own consumption.
I have the impression that cotton, which is deciduous in America,
is perennial here; for the plants I saw in winter were not dead,
though going by the name Algodao Americana, or American cotton.
The rents paid for gardens belonging to the old convents are merely nominal,
varying from one shilling to three pounds per annum. The higher rents
being realized from those in the immediate vicinity of Loanda,
none but Portuguese or half-castes can pay them.
When about to start, the horse which the governor had kindly presented
for Sekeletu was seized with inflammation, which delayed us some time longer,
and we ultimately lost it. We had been careful to watch it when coming
through the district of Matamba, where we had discovered the tsetse,
that no insect might light upon it.
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