The above account exhibits the total revenue and charges of the government
of St. Paul de Loanda in each year, from 1844-45 to 1848-49, both included.
The above three tables are copied from the appendix to a dispatch
sent by Mr. Gabriel to Viscount Palmerston, dated the 5th of August, 1850,
and, among other facts of interest, show a very satisfactory diminution
in the duties upon slaves.
The returns from 1818 to 1844 have been obtained from different sources
as the average revenue; those from 1844 to 1849 are from
the Custom-house records.
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As soon as we could move toward the Quango we did so, meeting in our course
several trading-parties, both native and Portuguese. We met two of the latter
carrying a tusk weighing 126 lbs. The owner afterward informed us
that its fellow on the left side of the same elephant was 130 lbs.
It was 8 feet 6-1/2 inches long, and 21 inches in circumference
at the part on which the lip of the animal rests. The elephant was
rather a small one, as is common in this hot central region.
Some idea may be formed of the strength of his neck when it is recollected
that he bore a weight of 256 lbs. The ivory which comes
from the east and northeast of Cassange is very much larger
than any to be found further south. Captain Neves had one weighing 120 lbs.,
and this weight is by no means uncommon. They have been found
weighing even 158 lbs.
Before reaching the Quango we were again brought to a stand
by fever in two of my companions, close to the residence of a Portuguese
who rejoiced in the name of William Tell, and who lived here
in spite of the prohibition of the government. We were using
the water of a pond, and this gentleman, having come to invite me to dinner,
drank a little of it, and caught fever in consequence. If malarious matter
existed in water, it would have been a wonder had we escaped;
for, traveling in the sun, with the thermometer from 96 Degrees to 98 Degrees
in the shade, the evaporation from our bodies causing much thirst,
we generally partook of every water we came to. We had probably thus
more disease than others might suffer who had better shelter.
Mr. Tell remarked that his garden was rather barren, being still,
as he said, wild; but when more worked it would become better,
though no manure be applied. My men were busy collecting
a better breed of fowls and pigeons than those in their own country.
Mr. Tell presented them with some large specimens from Rio Janeiro.
Of these they were wonderfully proud, and bore the cock in triumph
through the country of the Balonda, as evidence of having been to the sea.
But when at the village of Shinte, a hyaena came into our midst
when we were all sound asleep, and picked out the giant in his basket
from eighty-four others, and he was lost, to the great grief of my men.
The anxiety these people have always shown to improve the breed
of their domestic animals is, I think, a favorable point in their character.
On looking at the common breeds in the possession of the Portuguese,
which are merely native cattle, and seeing them slaughter
both heifer-calves and cows, which they themselves never do,
and likewise making no use of the milk, they concluded that the Portuguese
must be an inferior race of white men. They never ceased remarking
on the fine ground for gardens over which we were passing; and when
I happened to mention that most of the flour which the Portuguese consumed
came from another country, they exclaimed, "Are they ignorant of tillage?"
"They know nothing but buying and selling: they are not men."
I hope it may reach the ears of my Angolese friends, and that they
may be stirred up to develop the resources of their fine country.
On coming back to Cypriano's village on the 28th, we found
that his step-father had died after we had passed, and, according to
the custom of the country, he had spent more than his patrimony
in funeral orgies. He acted with his wonted kindness, though, unfortunately,
drinking has got him so deeply in debt that he now keeps out of the way
of his creditors. He informed us that the source of the Quango is eight days,
or one hundred miles, to the south of this, and in a range called Mosamba,
in the country of the Basongo. We can see from this a sort of break
in the high land which stretches away round to Tala Mongongo,
through which the river comes.
A death had occurred in a village about a mile off, and the people were busy
beating drums and firing guns. The funeral rites are half festive,
half mourning, partaking somewhat of the character of an Irish wake.
There is nothing more heart-rending than their death wails.
When the natives turn their eyes to the future world, they have a view
cheerless enough of their own utter helplessness and hopelessness.
They fancy themselves completely in the power of the disembodied spirits,
and look upon the prospect of following them as the greatest of misfortunes.
Hence they are constantly deprecating the wrath of departed souls,
believing that, if they are appeased, there is no other cause of death
but witchcraft, which may be averted by charms.
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