The Mountain
Overlooks The Shire, The Beautiful Meanderings Of Which Are
Distinctly Seen, On Clear Days, For Thirty Miles.
This river was for
some time supposed to be closed against Mariano, who, as a mere
matter of form,
Was declared a rebel against the Portuguese flag.
When, however, it became no longer possible to keep up the sham, the
river was thrown open to him; and Mr. Waller has seen in a single day
from fifteen to twenty canoes of different sizes going down, laden
with slaves, to the Portuguese settlements from the so-called rebel
camp. These cargoes were composed entirely of women and children.
For three months this traffic was incessant, and at last, so
completely was the mask thrown off, that one of the officials came to
pay a visit to Bishop Tozer on another part of the same mountain,
and, combining business with pleasure, collected payment for some
canoe work done for the Missionary party, and with this purchased
slaves from the rebels, who had only to be hailed from the bank of
the river. When he had concluded the bargain he trotted the slaves
out for inspection in Mr. Waller's presence. This official, Senhor
Mesquita, was the only officer who could be forced to live at the
Kongone. From certain circumstances in his life, he had fallen under
the power of the local Government; all the other Custom-house
officers refused to go to Kongone, so here poor Mesquita must live on
a miserable pittance - must live, and perhaps slave, sorely against
his will.
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