My People Were Now So Much Discouraged
That Some Proposed To Return Home; The Prospect Of Being Obliged To Return
When Just On The Threshold Of The Portuguese Settlements
Distressed Me Exceedingly.
After using all my powers of persuasion,
I declared to them that if they returned I would go on
Alone,
and went into my little tent with the mind directed to Him
who hears the sighing of the soul, and was soon followed
by the head of Mohorisi, saying, "We will never leave you.
Do not be disheartened. Wherever you lead we will follow.
Our remarks were made only on account of the injustice of these people."
Others followed, and with the most artless simplicity of manner
told me to be comforted - "they were all my children; they knew no one
but Sekeletu and me, and they would die for me; they had not fought because
I did not wish it; they had just spoken in the bitterness of their spirit,
and when feeling that they could do nothing; but if these enemies begin
you will see what we can do." One of the oxen we offered to the Chiboque
had been rejected because he had lost part of his tail,
as they thought that it had been cut off and witchcraft medicine inserted;
and some mirth was excited by my proposing to raise a similar objection
to all the oxen we still had in our possession. The remaining four
soon presented a singular shortness of their caudal extremities, and though
no one ever asked whether they had medicine in the stumps or no, we were
no more troubled by the demand for an ox! We now slaughtered another ox,
that the spectacle might not be seen of the owners of the cattle fasting
while the Chiboque were feasting.
Chapter 19.
Guides prepaid - Bark Canoes - Deserted by Guides -
Mistakes respecting the Coanza - Feelings of freed Slaves -
Gardens and Villages - Native Traders - A Grave - Valley of the Quango -
Bamboo - White Larvae used as Food - Bashinje Insolence -
A posing Question - The Chief Sansawe - His Hostility -
Pass him safely - The River Quango - Chief's mode of dressing his Hair -
Opposition - Opportune Aid by Cypriano - His generous Hospitality -
Ability of Half-castes to read and write - Books and Images -
Marauding Party burned in the Grass - Arrive at Cassange - A good Supper
- Kindness of Captain Neves - Portuguese Curiosity and Questions -
Anniversary of the Resurrection - No Prejudice against Color -
Country around Cassange - Sell Sekeletu's Ivory - Makololo's Surprise
at the high Price obtained - Proposal to return Home, and Reasons -
Soldier-guide - Hill Kasala - Tala Mungongo, Village of -
Civility of Basongo - True Negroes - A Field of Wheat -
Carriers - Sleeping-places - Fever - Enter District of Ambaca -
Good Fruits of Jesuit Teaching - The `Tampan'; its Bite -
Universal Hospitality of the Portuguese - A Tale of the Mambari -
Exhilarating Effects of Highland Scenery - District of Golungo Alto -
Want of good Roads - Fertility - Forests of gigantic Timber -
Native Carpenters - Coffee Estate - Sterility of Country near the Coast -
Mosquitoes - Fears of the Makololo - Welcome by Mr. Gabriel to Loanda.
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