The slaves in Colonel Pires' establishments appeared more like free servants
than any I had elsewhere seen. Every thing was neat and clean,
while generally, where slaves are the only domestics,
there is an aspect of slovenliness, as if they went on the principle
of always doing as little for their masters as possible.
In the country near to this station were a large number of the ancient
burial-places of the Jinga. These are simply large mounds of stones,
with drinking and cooking vessels of rude pottery on them. Some are arranged
in a circular form, two or three yards in diameter, and shaped like a haycock.
There is not a single vestige of any inscription. The natives of Angola
generally have a strange predilection for bringing their dead
to the sides of the most frequented paths. They have a particular anxiety
to secure the point where cross-roads meet. On and around the graves
are planted tree euphorbias and other species of that family.
On the grave itself they also place water-bottles, broken pipes,
cooking vessels, and sometimes a little bow and arrow.
The Portuguese government, wishing to prevent this custom, affixed a penalty
on any one burying in the roads, and appointed places of public sepulture
in every district in the country. The people persist, however,
in spite of the most stringent enforcement of the law,
to follow their ancient custom.
The country between the Coanza and Pungo Andongo is covered with low trees,
bushes, and fine pasturage. In the latter, we were pleased to see
our old acquaintances, the gaudy gladiolus, Amaryllis toxicaria, hymanthus,
and other bulbs in as flourishing a condition as at the Cape.
It is surprising that so little has been done in the way of agriculture
in Angola. Raising wheat by means of irrigation has never been tried;
no plow is ever used; and the only instrument is the native hoe,
in the hands of slaves. The chief object of agriculture is the manioc,
which does not contain nutriment sufficient to give proper stamina
to the people. The half-caste Portuguese have not so much energy
as their fathers. They subsist chiefly on the manioc,
and, as that can be eaten either raw, roasted, or boiled,
as it comes from the ground; or fermented in water, and then roasted or dried
after fermentation, and baked or pounded into fine meal;
or rasped into meal and cooked as farina; or made into confectionary
with butter and sugar, it does not so soon pall upon the palate
as one might imagine, when told that it constitutes their principal food.
The leaves boiled make an excellent vegetable for the table; and,
when eaten by goats, their milk is much increased. The wood is a good fuel,
and yields a large quantity of potash.
