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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