AttenA。Mwewenttotheresidenceofthecommandant，andonasignalbeinggiven，twoofthefourbrassgunsbelongingtothegovernmentcommencedfiring，andcontinuedsometime，tothegreatadmirationofmymen，whoseideasofthepowerofacannonareveryexalted。
ThePortugueseflagwashoistedandtrumpetssounded，asanexpressionofjoyattheresurrectionofourLord。
CaptainNevesinvitedalltheprincipalinhabitantsoftheplace，anddidwhathecouldtofeasttheminaprincelystyle。
AllmannerofforeignpreservedfruitsandwinefromPortugal，biscuitsfromAmerica，butterfromCork，andbeerfromEngland，weredisplayed，andnoexpensesparedinrenderingtheentertainmentjoyous。
Afterthefeastwasovertheysatdowntothecommonamusementofcard-playing，whichcontinuedtilleleveno’clockatnight。
Asfarasameretravelercouldjudge，theyseemedtobepoliteandwillingtoaideachotherTheyliveinafebriledistrict，andmanyofthemhadenlargedspleensTheyhaveneitherdoctor，apothecary，school，norpriest，and，whentakenill，trusttoeachotherandtoProvidence。
Asmenleftinsuchcircumstancesmustthinkforthemselves，theyhaveallagoodideaofwhatoughttobedoneinthecommondiseasesofthecountry，andwhattheyhaveofeithermedicineorskilltheyfreelyimparttoeachother。
NoneofthesegentlemenhadPortuguesewivesTheyusuallycometoAfricainordertomakealittlemoney，andreturntoLisbonHencetheyseldombringtheirwiveswiththem，andnevercanbesuccessfulcolonistsinconsequenceItiscommonforthemtohavefamiliesbynativewomen。
Itwasparticularlygratifyingtome，whohadbeenfamiliarwiththestupidprejudiceagainstcolor，entertainedonlybythosewhoarethemselvesbecomingtawny，toviewtheliberalitywithwhichpeopleofcolorweretreatedbythePortugueseInstances，socommonintheSouth，inwhichhalf-castechildrenareabandoned，arehereextremelyrare。
Theyareacknowledgedattable，andprovidedforbytheirfathersasifEuropeanThecoloredclerksofthemerchantssitatthesametablewiththeiremployerswithoutanyembarrassment。
Thecivilmannersofsuperiorstoinferiorsisprobablytheresultofthepositiontheyoccupyafewwhitesamongthousandsofblacks；
butnowhereelseinAfricaistheresomuchgood-willbetweenEuropeansandnativesashereIfsomebordercolonistshadtheabsolutecertaintyofourgovernmentdecliningtobearthemoutintheirarrogance，weshouldprobablyhearlessofCaffreinsolence。
Itisinsolencewhichbegetsinsolence。
FromthevillageofCassangewehaveagoodviewofthesurroundingcountry：
itisagentlyundulatingplain，coveredwithgrassandpatchesofforest。
ThewesternedgeoftheQuangovalleyappears，abouttwentymilesoff，asifitwerearangeofloftymountains，andpassesbythenameofTalaMungongo，“BeholdtheRange“IntheoldPortuguesemap，towhichIhadbeentrustinginplanningmyroute，itisindicatedasTallaMugongo，or“CastleofRocks！”andtheCoanzaisputdownasrisingtherefrom；buthereIwasassuredthattheCoanzahaditssourcenearBihe，fartothesouthwestofthis，andweshouldnotseethatrivertillwecamenearPungoAndongaItissomewhatremarkablethatmoreaccurateinformationaboutthiscountryhasnotbeenpublished。
CaptainNevesandothershadacorrectideaofthecoursesoftherivers，andcommunicatedtheirknowledgefreely；yetaboutthistimemapsweresenttoEuropefromAngolarepresentingtheQuangoandCoanzaasthesameriver，andCassangeplacedaboutonehundredmilesfromitstruepositionThefrequentrecurrenceofthesamenamehasprobablyhelpedtoincreasetheconfusionIhavecrossedseveralQuangos，butallinsignificant，exceptthatwhichdrainsthisvalley。
Therepetitionofthefavoritenamesofchiefs，asCatende，isalsoperplexing，asoneCatendemaybemistakenforanother。
Toavoidthisconfusionasmuchaspossible，IhaverefrainedfromintroducingmanynamesNumerousvillagesarestuddedalloverthevalley；
butthesepossessnopermanence，andmanymoreexistedprevioustothePortugueseexpeditionof1850topunishtheBangala。
Thisvalley，asIhavebeforeremarked，isallfertileintheextreme。
Mymencouldneverceaseadmiringitscapabilityforraisingtheircorn`Holcussorghum’，anddespisingthecomparativelylimitedcultivationoftheinhabitantsThePortugueseinformedmethatnomanureiseverneeded，butthat，themorethegroundistilled，thebetterityields。
Virginsoildoesnotgivesuchaheavycropasanoldgarden，and，judgingfromthesizeofthemaizeandmaniocinthelatter，IcanreadilybelievethestatementCattledowell，tooViewingthevalleyasawhole，itmaybesaidthatitsagriculturalandpastoralrichesarelyingwasteBoththePortugueseandtheirdescendantsturntheirattentionalmostexclusivelytotradeinwaxandivory，andthoughthecountrywouldyieldanyamountofcornanddairyproduce，thenativePortugueselivechieflyonmanioc，andtheEuropeanspurchasetheirflour，bread，butter，andcheesefromtheAmericans。
AsthetradersofCassangewerethefirstwhitemenwehadcometo，wesoldthetusksbelongingtoSekeletu，whichhadbeenbroughttotestthedifferenceofpricesintheMakololoandwhitemen’scountry。
Theresultwashighlysatisfactorytomycompanions，asthePortuguesegivemuchlargerpricesforivorythantradersfromtheCapecanpossiblygive，wholaborunderthedisadvantageofconsiderableoverlandexpensesandruinousrestrictionsTwomuskets，threesmallbarrelsofgunpowder，andEnglishcalicoandbaizesufficienttoclothemywholeparty，withlargebunchesofbeads，allforonetusk，werequitedelightfulforthosewhohadbeenaccustomedtogivetwotusksforonegun。
Withanothertuskweprocuredcalico，whichhereisthechiefcurrency，topayourwaydowntothecoastTheremainingtwoweresoldformoneytopurchaseahorseforSekeletuatLoanda。
ThesuperiorityofthisnewmarketwasquiteastoundingtotheMakololo，andtheybegantoabusethetradersbywhomtheyhad，whileintheirowncountry，beenvisited，and，astheynowdeclared，“cheated“。
Theyhadnoideaofthevalueoftimeandcarriage，anditwassomewhatdifficultformetoconvincethemthatthereasonofthedifferenceofpriceslayentirelyinwhattheythemselveshaddoneincominghere，andthat，ifthePortugueseshouldcarrygoodstotheircountry，theywouldbynomeansbesoliberalintheirpricesTheyimaginedthat，iftheCassangetraderscametoLinyanti，theywouldcontinuetovendtheirgoodsatCassangepricesIbelieveIgavethematlastaclearideaofthemannerinwhichpriceswereregulatedbytheexpensesincurred；andwhenwewenttoLoanda，andsawgoodsdeliveredatastillcheaperrate，theyconcludedthatitwouldbebetterforthemtocometothatcity，thantoturnhomewardatCassange。
ItwasinterestingformetoobservetheeffectsoftherestrictivepolicypursuedbytheCapegovernmenttowardtheBechuanasLikeallotherrestrictionsontrade，thelawofpreventingfriendlytribesfrompurchasingarmsandammunitiononlyinjuresthemenwhoenforceit。
TheCapegovernment，asalreadyobserved，inordertogratifyacompanyofindependentBoers，whosewell-knownpredilectionforthepracticeofslaverycausedthemtostipulatethatanumberofpeaceable，honesttribesshouldbekeptdefenseless，agreedtoallowfreetradeinarmsandammunitiontotheBoers，andpreventthesametradetotheBechuanasTheCapegovernmenttherebyunintentionallyaided，andcontinuestoaid，theBoerstoenslavethenativesButarmsandammunitionflowinonallsidesbynewchannels，andwhereformerlythepriceofalargetuskprocuredbutonemusket，onetuskofthesamesizenowbringsten。
Theprofitsarereapedbyothernations，andtheonlypersonsreallythelosers，inthelongrun，areourownCapemerchants，andafewdefenselesstribesofBechuanasonourimmediatefrontier。
MrRego，thecommandant，veryhandsomelyofferedmeasoldierasaguardtoAmbacaMymentoldmethattheyhadbeenthinkingitwouldbebettertoturnbackhere，astheyhadbeeninformedbythepeopleofcoloratCassangethatIwasleadingthemdowntothesea-coastonlytosellthem，andtheywouldbetakenonboardship，fattened，andeaten，asthewhitemenwerecannibalsIaskediftheyhadeverheardofanEnglishmanbuyingorsellingpeople；ifIhadnotrefusedtotakeaslavewhenshewasofferedtomebyShinte；but，asIhadalwaysbehavedasanEnglishteacher，iftheynowdoubtedmyintentions，theyhadbetternotgotothecoast；I，however，whoexpectedtomeetsomeofmycountrymenthere，wasdeterminedtogoonTheyrepliedthattheyonlythoughtitrighttotellmewhathadbeentoldtothem，buttheydidnotintendtoleaveme，andwouldfollowwhereverIshouldleadthewayThisaffairbeingdisposedofforthetime，thecommandantgavethemanox，andmeafriendlydinnerbeforeparting。
AllthemerchantsofCassangeaccompaniedus，intheirhammockscarriedbyslaves，totheedgeoftheplateauonwhichtheirvillagestands，andwepartedwiththefeelinginmymindthatIshouldneverforgettheirdisinterestedkindnessTheynotonlydideverythingtheycouldtomakemymenandmecomfortableduringourstay；but，therebeingnohotelsinLoanda，theyfurnishedmewithlettersofrecommendationtotheirfriendsinthatcity，requestingthemtoreceivemeintotheirhouses，forwithouttheseastrangermightfindhimselfalodgerinthestreets。
MayGodrememberthemintheirdayofneed！
ThelatitudeandlongitudeofCassange，themosteasterlystationofthePortugueseinWesternAfrica，islat9d37’30“S。，andlong17d49’E。；consequentlywehadstillabout300milestotraversebeforewecouldreachthecoastWehadablackmilitiacorporalasaguide。
HewasanativeofAmbaca，and，likenearlyalltheinhabitantsofthatdistrict，knownbythenameofAmbakistas，couldbothreadandwrite。
Hehadthreeslaveswithhim，andwascarriedbythemina“tipoia“，orhammockslungtoapoleHisslaveswereyoung，andunabletoconveyhimfaratatime，buthewasconsiderateenoughtowalkexceptwhenwecameneartoavillageHethenmountedhistipoiaandenteredthevillageinstate；hisdeparturewasmadeinthesamemanner，andhecontinuedinthehammocktillthevillagewasoutofsight。
Itwasinterestingtoobservethemannersofoursoldier-guide。
Twoslaveswerealwaysemployedincarryinghistipoia，andthethirdcarriedawoodenbox，aboutthreefeetlong，containinghiswritingmaterials，dishes，andclothing。
Hewascleanlyinallhisways，and，thoughquiteblackhimself，whenhescoldedanyoneofhisowncolor，abusedhimasa“negro“。
Whenhewantedtopurchaseanyarticlefromavillage，hewouldsitdown，mixalittlegunpowderasink，andwriteanoteinaneathandtoasktheprice，addressingittotheshopkeeperwiththeratherpompoustitle，“IllustrissimoSenhor“MostIllustriousSir。
ThisistheinvariablemodeofaddressthroughoutAngolaTheanswerreturnedwouldbeinthesamestyle，and，ifsatisfactory，anothernotefollowedtoconcludethebargainThereissomuchofthisnotecorrespondencecarriedoninAngola，thataverylargequantityofpaperisannuallyconsumedSomeotherpeculiaritiesofourguidewerenotsopleasingAlandofslavesisabadschoolforeventhefree；
andIwassorrytofindlesstruthfulnessandhonestyinhimthaninmyownpeopleWewereoftencheatedthroughhisconnivancewiththesellersoffood，andcouldperceivethathegotashareoftheplunderfromthemThefoodisverycheap，butitwasgenerallymadedearenough，untilIrefusedtoallowhimtocomeneartheplacewherewewerebargaining。
ButhetookussafelydowntoAmbaca，andIwasgladtosee，onmyreturntoCassange，thathewaspromotedtobesergeant-majorofacompanyofmilitia。
HavingleftCassangeonthe21st，wepassedacrosstheremainingportionofthisexcessivelyfertilevalleytothefootofTalaMungongo。
WecrossedafinelittlestreamcalledtheLuionthe22d，andanothernamedtheLuareonthe24th，thensleptatthebottomoftheheight，whichisfromathousandtofifteenhundredfeetThecloudscamefloatingalongthevalley，andbrokeagainstthesidesoftheascent，andthedrippingrainonthetallgrassmadetheslapsinthefaceitgave，whenthehandorastickwasnotheldupbeforeit，anythingbutagreeable。
Thisedgeofthevalleyisexactlyliketheother；juttingspursanddefilesgivetheredascentthesameserratedappearanceasthatwhichwedescendedfromthehighlandsofLondaThewholeofthisvastvalleyhasbeenremovedbydenudation，forpiecesoftheplateauwhichoncefilledthenowvacantspacestandinit，andpresentthesamestructureofredhorizontalstrataofequalaltitudeswiththoseoftheacclivitywhichwearenowabouttoascend。
Oneoftheseinsulatedmasses，namedKasala，boreE。S。Efromtheplacewherewemadeourexitfromthevalley，andabouttenmilesW。S。W。
fromthevillageofCassangeItisremarkableforitsperpendicularsides；
eventhenativesfinditextremelydifficult，almostimpossible，toreachitssummit，thoughthereisthetemptationofmarabou-nestsandfeathers，whicharehighlyprizedThereisasmalllakereportedtoexistonitssouthernend，and，duringtherainyseason，asortofnaturalmoatisformedaroundthebottomWhatanacquisitionthiswouldhavebeeninfeudaltimesinEngland！Thereislandsufficientforconsiderablecultivationonthetop，withalmostperpendicularsidesmorethanathousandfeetinheight。