In former times the Portuguese imagined that this place
was particularly unhealthy, and banishment to the black rocks of
Pungo Andongo
was thought by their judges to be a much severer sentence
than transportation to any part of the coast; but this district
is now well known to be the most healthy part of Angola.
The water is remarkably pure, the soil is light, and the country
open and undulating, with a general slope down toward the River Coanza,
a few miles distant. That river is the southern boundary of the Portuguese,
and beyond, to the S. and S.W., we see the high mountains of the Libollo.
On the S.E. we have also a mountainous country, inhabited by
the Kimbonda or Ambonda, who are said by Colonel Pires to be
a very brave and independent people, but hospitable and fair
in their dealings. They are rich in cattle, and their country produces
much beeswax, which is carefully collected, and brought to the Portuguese,
with whom they have always been on good terms.
The Ako (Haco), a branch of this family, inhabit the left bank of the Coanza
above this village, who, instead of bringing slaves for sale, as formerly,
now occasionally bring wax for the purchase of a slave from the Portuguese.
I saw a boy sold for twelve shillings: he said that he belonged
to the country of Matiamvo. Here I bought a pair of well-made boots,
of good tanned leather, which reached above the knee, for five shillings
and eightpence, and that was just the price given for one pound of ivory
by Mr. Pires; consequently, the boy was worth two pairs of boots,
or two pounds of ivory.
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