This Is Never Eaten By Weevils,
And So Little Labor Is Required In Its Cultivation That On The Spot
It Is Extremely Cheap.
Throughout the interior parts of Angola,
fine manioc meal, which could with ease have been converted either into
superior starch or tapioca, is commonly sold at the rate of about ten pounds
for a penny.
All this region, however, has no means of transport to Loanda
other than the shoulders of the carriers and slaves over a footpath.
Cambambe, to which the navigation of the Coanza reaches,
is reported to be thirty leagues below Pungo Andongo.
A large waterfall is the limit on that side; and another exists higher up,
at the confluence of the Lombe (lat. 9d 41' 26" S., and about long. 16d E.),
over which hippopotami and elephants are sometimes drawn and killed.
The river between is rapid, and generally rushes over a rocky bottom.
Its source is pointed out as S.E. or S.S.E. of its confluence with the Lombe,
and near Bihe. The situation of Bihe is not well known.
When at Sanza we were assured that it lies nearly south of that point,
and eight days distant. This statement seemed to be corroborated
by our meeting many people going to Matiamvo and to Loanda from Bihe.
Both parties had come to Sanza, and then branched off,
one to the east, the other to the west. The source of the Coanza
is thus probably not far from Sanza.
I had the happiness of doing a little good in the way of administering
to the sick, for there are no doctors in the interior of Angola.
Notwithstanding the general healthiness of this fine district
and its pleasant temperature, I was attacked by fever myself.
While confined to my room, a gentleman of color, a canon of the Church,
kindly paid me a visit. He was on a tour of visitation
in the different interior districts for the purpose of baptizing and marrying.
He had lately been on a visit to Lisbon in company with the Prince of Congo,
and had been invested with an order of honor by the King of Portugal as
an acknowledgment of his services. He had all the appearance of a true negro,
but commanded the respect of the people; and Colonel P.,
who had known him for thirty years, pronounced him to be a good man.
There are only three or four priests in Loanda, all men of color,
but educated for the office. About the time of my journey in Angola,
an offer was made to any young men of ability who might wish
to devote themselves to the service of the Church, to afford them
the requisite education at the University of Coimbra in Portugal.
I was informed, on what seemed good authority, that the Prince of Congo
is professedly a Christian, and that there are no fewer than twelve churches
in that kingdom, the fruits of the mission established in former times
at San Salvador, the capital. These churches are kept in partial repair
by the people, who also keep up the ceremonies of the Church,
pronouncing some gibberish over the dead, in imitation of the Latin prayers
which they had formerly heard. Many of them can read and write.
When a King of Congo dies, the body is wrapped up in a great many
folds of cloth until a priest can come from Loanda to consecrate
his successor. The King of Congo still retains the title of Lord of Angola,
which he had when the Jinga, the original possessors of the soil,
owed him allegiance; and, when he writes to the Governor of Angola,
he places his own name first, as if addressing his vassal.
The Jinga paid him tribute annually in cowries, which were found on the island
that shelters Loanda harbor, and, on refusing to continue payment,
the King of Congo gave over the island to the Portuguese,
and thus their dominion commenced in this quarter.
There is not much knowledge of the Christian religion in either
Congo or Angola, yet it is looked upon with a certain degree of favor.
The prevalence of fever is probably the reason why no priest occupies a post
in any part of the interior. They come on tours of visitation
like that mentioned, and it is said that no expense is incurred,
for all the people are ready not only to pay for their services,
but also to furnish every article in their power gratuitously.
In view of the desolate condition of this fine missionary field,
it is more than probable that the presence of a few Protestants
would soon provoke the priests, if not to love, to good works.
Chapter 22.
Leave Pungo Andongo - Extent of Portuguese Power -
Meet Traders and Carriers - Red Ants; their fierce Attack;
Usefulness; Numbers - Descend the Heights of Tala Mungongo -
Fruit-trees in the Valley of Cassange - Edible Muscle -
Birds - Cassange Village - Quinine and Cathory -
Sickness of Captain Neves' Infant - A Diviner thrashed -
Death of the Child - Mourning - Loss of Life from the Ordeal -
Wide-spread Superstitions - The Chieftainship - Charms -
Receive Copies of the "Times" - Trading Pombeiros -
Present for Matiamvo - Fever after westerly Winds - Capabilities of Angola
for producing the raw Materials of English Manufacture -
Trading Parties with Ivory - More Fever - A Hyaena's Choice -
Makololo Opinion of the Portuguese - Cypriano's Debt - A Funeral -
Dread of disembodied Spirits - Beautiful Morning Scenes -
Crossing the Quango - Ambakistas called "The Jews of Angola" -
Fashions of the Bashinje - Approach the Village of Sansawe -
His Idea of Dignity - The Pombeiros' Present - Long Detention -
A Blow on the Beard - Attacked in a Forest - Sudden Conversion
of a fighting Chief to Peace Principles by means of a Revolver -
No Blood shed in consequence - Rate of Traveling - Slave Women -
Way of addressing Slaves - Their thievish Propensities -
Feeders of the Congo or Zaire - Obliged to refuse Presents -
Cross the Loajima - Appearance of People; Hair Fashions.
JANUARY 1, 1855. Having, through the kindness of Colonel Pires,
reproduced some of my lost papers, I left Pungo Andongo
the first day of this year, and at Candumba, slept in
one of the dairy establishments of my friend, who had sent forward orders
for an ample supply of butter, cheese, and milk.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 177 of 295
Words from 182625 to 183665
of 306638
