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.
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