ThewaterwasdiscoloredacircumstancewhichwehadobservedinnoriverinLondaorintheMakololocountryThisfineriverflowsamongextensivemeadowsclothedwithgiganticgrassandreeds，andinadirectionnearlynorth。
TheQuangoissaidbythenativestocontainmanyvenomouswater-snakes，whichcongregatenearthecarcassofanyhippopotamusthatmaybekilledinitIfthisistrue，itmayaccountforallthevillageswesawbeingsituatedfarfromitsbanks。
Wewereadvisednottosleepnearit；but，aswewereanxioustocrosstothewesternside，wetriedtoinducesomeoftheBashinjetolenduscanoesforthepurposeThisbroughtoutthechiefoftheseparts，whoinformedusthatallthecanoe-menwerehischildren，andnothingcouldbedonewithouthisauthorityHethenmadetheusualdemandforaman，anox，oragun，addingthatotherwisewemustreturntothecountryfromwhichwehadcomeAsIdidnotbelievethatthismanhadanypoweroverthecanoesoftheotherside，andsuspectedthatifIgavehimmyblankettheonlythingInowhadinreserve
hemightleaveusinthelurchafterall，Itriedtopersuademymentogoatoncetothebank，abouttwomilesoff，andobtainpossessionofthecanoesbeforewegaveuptheblanket；buttheythoughtthatthischiefmightattackusintheactofcrossing，shouldwedoso。
Thechiefcamehimselftoourencampmentandmadehisdemandagain。
Mymenstrippedoffthelastoftheircopperringsandgavethem；
buthewasstillintentonamanHethought，asothersdid，thatmymenwereslavesHewasayoungman，withhiswoollyhairelaboratelydressed：thatbehindwasmadeupintoacone，abouteightinchesindiameteratthebase，carefullyswathedroundwithredandblackthread。
AsIresistedtheproposaltodeliverupmyblanketuntiltheyhadplacedusonthewesternbank，thischiefcontinuedtoworryuswithhisdemandstillIwastiredMylittletentwasnowintatters，andhavingawiderholebehindthanthedoorinfront，ItriedinvaintoliedownoutofsightofourpersecutorsWewereonareedyflat，andcouldnotfollowourusualplanofasmallstockade，inwhichwehadtimetothinkoverandconcoctourplansAsIwastryingtopersuademymentomoveontothebankinspiteofthesepeople，ayounghalf-castePortuguesesergeantofmilitia，CyprianodiAbreu，madehisappearance，andgavethesameadviceHehadcomeacrosstheQuangoinsearchofbees’-waxWhenwemovedofffromthechiefwhohadbeenplaguingus，hispeopleopenedafirefromoursheds，andcontinuedtoblazeawaysometimeinthedirectionweweregoing，butnoneofthebulletsreachedusItisprobablethattheyexpectedademonstrationoftheabundanceofammunitiontheypossessedwouldmakeusrun；butwhenwecontinuedtomovequietlytotheford，theyproceedednofartherthanoursleeping-placeCyprianoassistedusinmakingamoresatisfactoryarrangementwiththeferrymenthanpartingwithmyblanket；andassoonaswereachedtheoppositebankwewereintheterritoryoftheBangala，whoaresubjectsofthePortuguese，andoftenspokenofastheCassangesorCassantse；andhappilyallourdifficultieswiththebordertribeswereatanend。
Passingwithlightheartsthroughthehighgrassbyanarrowfootpathforaboutthreemilestothewestoftheriver，wecametoseveralneatsquarehouses，withmanycleanly-lookinghalf-castePortuguesestandinginfrontofthemtosaluteusTheyareallenrolledinthemilitia，andourfriendCyprianoisthecommanderofadivisionestablishedhere。
TheBangalawereverytroublesometothePortuguesetraders，andatlastproceededsofarastokilloneofthem；thegovernmentofAngolathensentanexpeditionagainstthem，whichbeingsuccessful，theBangalaweredispersed，andarenowreturningtotheirformerabodesasvassals。
Themilitiaarequarteredamongthem，andengageintradeandagriculturefortheirsupport，asnopayisgiventothisbranchoftheservicebythegovernment。
WecametothedwellingofCyprianoafterdark，andIpitchedmylittletentinfrontofitforthenightWehadthecompanyofmosquitoeshere。
WeneverfoundthemtroublesomeonthebanksofthepurestreamsofLonda。
Onthemorningofthe5thCyprianogenerouslysuppliedmymenwithpumpkinsandmaize，andtheninvitedmetobreakfast，whichconsistedofground-nutsandroastedmaize，thenboiledmaniocrootsandground-nuts，withguavasandhoneyasadessertIfeltsincerelygratefulforthismagnificentbreakfast。
AtdinnerCyprianowasequallybountiful，andseveralofhisfriendsjoinedusindoingjusticetohishospitalityBeforeeating，allhadwaterpouredonthehandsbyafemaleslavetowashthem。
Oneoftheguestscutupafowlwithaknifeandfork。
NeitherforksnorspoonswereusedineatingTherepastwaspartakenofwithdecencyandgoodmanners，andconcludedbywashingthehandsasatfirst。
AllofthemcouldreadandwritewitheaseIexaminedthebookstheypossessed，andfoundasmallworkonmedicine，asmallcyclopaedia，andaPortuguesedictionary，inwhichthedefinitionofa“priest“seemedstrangetoaProtestant，namely，“onewhotakescareoftheconscience。”
TheyhadalsoafewtractscontainingtheLivesoftheSaints，andCyprianohadthreesmallwaximagesofsaintsinhisroomOneofthesewasStAnthony，who，hadheenduredtheprivationshedidinhiscellinlookingaftertheselostsheep，wouldhavelivedtobetterpurpose。
NeitherCyprianonorhiscompanionsknewwhattheBiblewas，buttheyhadrelicsinGerman-silvercaseshungroundtheirnecks，toactascharmsandsavethemfromdangerbylandorbywater，inthesamewayastheheathenhavemedicinesItisapitythattheChurchtowhichtheybelong，whenunabletoattendtothewantsofherchildren，doesnotgivethemthesacredwritingsintheirowntongue；
itwouldsurelybebettertoseethemgoodProtestants，ifthesewouldleadthemtobeso，thanentirelyignorantofGod’smessagetoman。
Formypart，IwouldmuchprefertoseetheAfricansgoodRomanCatholicsthanidolatrousheathen。
Muchofthecivilityshowntousherewas，nodoubt，owingtotheflatteringlettersofrecommendationIcarriedfromtheChevalierDuPrat，ofCapeTown；
butIaminclinedtobelievethatmyfriendCyprianowasinfluenced，too，byfeelingsofgenuinekindness，forhequitebaredhisgardeninfeedingusduringthefewdayswhichIremained，anxiouslyexpectingthecloudstodisperse，sofarastoallowofmytakingobservationsforthedeterminationofthepositionoftheQuangoHeslaughteredanoxforus，andfurnishedhismotherandhermaidswithmaniocroots，topreparefarinaforthefourorfivedaysofourjourneytoCassange，andneverevenhintedatpaymentMywretchedappearancemusthaveexcitedhiscompassionThefarinaispreparedbywashingtherootswell，thenraspingthemdowntoapulpNext，thisisroastedslightlyonametalplateoverafire，andisthenusedwithmeatasavegetable。
Itcloselyresembleswood-sawings，andonthataccountisnamed“wood-meal“。
Itisinsipid，andemployedtolickupanygravyremainingonone’splate。
ThosewhohavebecomeaccustomedtoitrelishitevenaftertheyhavereturnedtoEurope。
Themanioccultivatedhereisofthesweetvariety；thebitter，towhichwewereaccustomedinLonda，isnottobefoundveryextensivelyinthisfertilevalleyMayisthebeginningofwinter，yetmanyoftheinhabitantswerebusyplantingmaize；
thatwhichwewerenoweatingwasplantedinthebeginningofFebruary。
Thesoilisexceedinglyfertile，ofadarkredcolor，andcoveredwithsuchadense，heavycropofcoarsegrass，thatwhenamaraudingpartyofAmbondaoncecameforplunderwhileitwasinadriedstate，theBangalaencircledthecommonenemywithafirewhichcompletelydestroyedthemThis，whichisrelatedontheauthorityofPortuguesewhoweretheninthecountry，Icaneasilybelievetobetrue，forthestalksofthegrassaregenerallyasthickasgoose-quills，andnoflightcouldbemadethroughthemassofgrassinanydirectionwhereafootpathdoesnotexist。
Probably，inthecasementioned，thedirectionofthewindwassuchastodrivetheflamesacrossthepaths，andpreventescapealongthem。
OnoneoccasionInearlylostmywagonbyfire，inavalleywherethegrasswasonlyaboutthreefeethighWewererousedbytheroar，asofatorrent，madebythefirecomingfromthewindwardIimmediatelysetfiretothatonourleeward，andhadjusttimetodragthewagonontothebarespacetherebeforethewindwardflamesreachedtheplacewhereithadstood。
WeweredetainedbyrainsandadesiretoascertainourgeographicalpositiontillMonday，the10th，andonlygotthelatitude9d50’S。；
and，afterthreedays’prettyhardtravelingthroughthelonggrass，reachedCassange，thefarthestinlandstationofthePortugueseinWesternAfricaWecrossedseveralfinelittlestreamsrunningintotheQuango；andasthegrasscontinuedtotowerabouttwofeetoverourheads，itgenerallyobstructedourviewoftheadjacentcountry，andsometimeshungoverthepath，makingonesideofthebodywetwiththedeweverymorning，or，whenitrained，keptmewetduringthewholedayImademyentranceinasomewhatforlornstateastoclothingamongourPortugueseallies。
ThefirstgentlemanImetinthevillageaskedifIhadapassport，andsaiditwasnecessarytotakemebeforetheauthorities。
AsIwasinthesamestateofmindinwhichindividualsarewhocommitapettydepredationinordertoobtaintheshelterandfoodofaprison，IgladlyaccompaniedhimtothehouseofthecommandantorChefe，SenhordeSilvaRegoHavingshownmypassporttothisgentleman，hepolitelyaskedmetosupper，and，aswehadeatennothingexceptthefarinaofCyprianofromtheQuangotothis，IsuspectIappearedparticularlyravenoustotheothergentlemenaroundthetable。
Theyseemed，however，tounderstandmypositionprettywell，fromhavingalltraveledextensivelythemselves；hadtheynotbeenpresent，Imighthaveputsomeinmypockettoeatbynight；for，afterfever，theappetiteisexcessivelykeen，andmaniocisoneofthemostunsatisfyingkindsoffoodCaptainAntonioRodriguesNevesthenkindlyinvitedmetotakeupmyabodeinhishouseNextmorningthisgenerousmanarrayedmeindecentclothing，andcontinuedduringthewholeperiodofmystaytotreatmeasifIhadbeenhisbrotherIfeeldeeplygratefultohimforhisdisinterestedkindnessHenotonlyattendedtomywants，butalsofurnishedfoodformyfamishingpartyfreeofcharge。
ThevillageofCassangepronouncedKassanjeiscomposedofthirtyorfortytraders’houses，scatteredaboutwithoutanyregularity，onanelevatedflatspotinthegreatQuangoorCassangevalley。
Theyarebuiltofwattleanddaub，andsurroundedbyplantationsofmanioc，maize，etcBehindthemthereareusuallykitchengardens，inwhichthecommonEuropeanvegetables，aspotatoes，peas，cabbages，onions，tomatoes，etc。，etc。，growGuavasandbananasappear，fromthesizeandabundanceofthetrees，tohavebeenintroducedmanyyearsago，whilethelandwasstillinthepossessionofthenatives；
butpine-apples，orange，fig，andcashewtreeshavebutlatelybeentried。
ThereareaboutfortyPortuguesetradersinthisdistrict，allofwhomareofficersinthemilitia，andmanyofthemhavebecomerichfromadoptingtheplanofsendingoutPombeiros，ornativetraders，withlargequantitiesofgoods，totradeinthemoreremotepartsofthecountry。
SomeofthegovernorsofLoanda，thecapitalofthis，thekingdomofAngola，haveinsistedontheobservanceofalawwhich，frommotivesofhumanity，forbidsthePortuguesethemselvesfrompassingbeyondtheboundary。
Theyseemtohavetakenitforgrantedthat，incaseswherethewhitetraderwaskilled，theaggressionhadbeenmadebyhim，andtheywishedtoavoidthenecessityofpunishingthosewhohadbeenprovokedtoshedPortuguesebloodThisindicatesamuchgreaterimpartialitythanhasobtainedinourowndealingswiththeCaffres，forwehaveengagedinmostexpensivewarswiththemwithoutonceinquiringwhetheranyofthefaultlaywithourfrontiercolonists。
TheCassangetradersseeminclinedtospreadalongtheQuango，inspiteofthedesireoftheirgovernmenttokeepthemononespot，formutualprotectionincaseofwarIfImightjudgefromtheweekoffeastingIpassedamongthem，theyaregenerallyprosperous。
AsIalwayspreferredtoappearinmyownpropercharacter，IwasanobjectofcuriositytothesehospitablePortuguese。
TheyevidentlylookeduponmeasanagentoftheEnglishgovernment，engagedinsomenewmovementforthesuppressionofslaveryTheycouldnotdivinewhata“missionario“hadtodowiththelatitudesandlongitudes，whichIwasintentonobservingWhenwebecamealittlefamiliar，thequestionsputwereratheramusing：“Isitcommonformissionariestobedoctors？”“Areyouadoctorofmedicineanda`doutormathematico’too？
Youmustbemorethanamissionarytoknowhowtocalculatethelongitude！
Come，tellusatoncewhatrankyouholdintheEnglisharmy。”
Theymayhavegivencredittomyreasonforwearingthemustache，asthatexplainswhymenhavebeardsandwomenhavenone；
butthatwhichpuzzledmanybesidesmyCassangefriendswastheanomalyofmybeinga“sacerdote“，withawifeandfourchildren！
Iusuallygotridofthelastquestionbyputtinganother：
“Isitnotbettertohavechildrenwithawife，thantohavechildrenwithoutawife？”Butallweremostkindandhospitable；
andasoneoftheirfestivalswasnear，theyinvitedmetopartakeofthefeast。
TheanniversaryoftheResurrectionofourSaviorwasobservedonthe16thofAprilasadayofrejoicing，thoughthePortuguesehavenopriestsatCassangeThecoloredpopulationdressedupafigureintendedtorepresentJudasIscariot，andparadedhimonariding-oxaboutthevillage；sneersandmaledictionswerefreelybestowedonthepoorwretchthusrepresentedTheslavesandfreecoloredpopulation，dressedintheirgayestclothing，madevisitstoalltheprincipalmerchants，andwishingthem“agoodfeast“，expectedapresentinreturn。
This，thoughfrequentlygrantedintheshapeofpiecesofcalicotomakenewdresses，wasoccasionallyrefused，buttherebuffdidnotmuchaffectthepetitioner。