第77章
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  Itconsistedofgreatquantitiesofcottoncloth,alargecarpet,anarm-chairwithacanopyandcurtainsofcrimsoncalico,anironbedstead,mosquitocurtains,beads,etc。,andanumberofpicturesrudelypaintedinoilbyanembryoblackpainteratCassange。

  Matiamvo,likemostofthenativesintheinteriorofthecountry,hasastrongdesiretopossessacannon,andhadsenttenlargetuskstopurchaseone;but,beinggovernmentproperty,itcouldnotbesold:

  hewasnowfurnishedwithablunderbuss,mountedasacannon,whichwouldprobablypleasehimaswell。

  SenhorGracaandsomeotherPortuguesehavevisitedthischiefatdifferenttimes;butnoEuropeanresidesbeyondtheQuango;

  indeed,itiscontrarytothepolicyofthegovernmentofAngolatoallowtheirsubjectstopenetratefurtherintotheinteriorThepresentwouldhavebeenagoodopportunityformetohavevisitedthatchief,andIfeltstronglyinclinedtodoso,ashehadexpresseddissatisfactionrespectingmytreatmentbytheChiboque,andeventhreatenedtopunishthem。

  Asitwouldbeimpropertoforcemymentogothither,Iresolvedtowaitandseewhetherthepropositionmightnotemanatefromthemselves。

  WhenIcangetthenativestoagreeintheproprietyofanystep,theygototheendoftheaffairwithoutamurmurIspeaktothemandtreatthemasrationalbeings,andgenerallygetonwellwiththeminconsequence。

  IhavealreadyremarkedontheunhealthinessofCassange;

  andCaptainNeves,whopossessesanobservingturnofmind,hadnoticedthatalwayswhenthewestwindblowsmuchfeverimmediatelyfollows。

  Aslongaseasterlywindsprevail,allenjoygoodhealth;

  butinJanuary,February,March,andApril,thewindsarevariable,andsicknessisgeneralTheunhealthinessofthewesterlywindsprobablyresultsfrommalaria,appearingtobeheavierthancommonair,andsweepingdownintothevalleyofCassangefromthewesternplateau,somewhatinthesamewayasthecarbonicacidgasfrombean-fieldsissupposedbycollierstodointocoal-pitsInthewestofScotlandstrongobjectionsaremadebythatbodyofmentofarmersplantingbeansintheirvicinity,fromthebeliefthattheyrendertheminesunhealthy。

  ThegravitationofthemalariafromthemoreelevatedlandofTalaMungongotowardCassangeistheonlywaytheunhealthinessofthisspotontheprevalenceofthewesterlywindscanbeaccountedfor。

  ThebanksoftheQuango,thoughmuchmoremarshy,andcoveredwithrankervegetation,arecomparativelyhealthy;butthitherthewesterlywinddoesnotseemtoconveythenoxiousagent。

  FEB20THOnthedayofstartingfromCassange,thewesterlywindblewstrongly,andonthedayfollowingwewerebroughttoastandbyseveralofourpartybeinglaidupwithfeverThiscomplaintistheonlyseriousdrawbackAngolapossessesItisineveryotherrespectanagreeableland,andadmirablyadaptedforyieldingarichabundanceoftropicalproducefortherestoftheworld。

  Indeed,Ihavenohesitationinassertingthat,haditbeeninthepossessionofEngland,itwouldnowhavebeenyieldingasmuchormoreoftherawmaterialforhermanufacturesasanequalextentofterritoryinthecotton-growingstatesofAmerica。

  ArailwayfromLoandatothisvalleywouldsecurethetradeofmostoftheinteriorofSouthCentralAfrica。*

  *Thefollowingstatisticsmaybeofinteresttomercantilemen。

  Theyshowthatsincetherepressionoftheslave-tradeinAngolathevalueoftheexportsinlawfulcommercehassteadilyaugmented。

  Wehavenoreturnssince1850,buttheprosperityoflegitimatetradehassufferednocheckThedutiesarenotedinPortuguesemoney,“milreis“,eachofwhichisaboutthreeshillingsinvalue。

  ReturnoftheQuantitiesandValueoftheStapleArticles,theProduceoftheProvinceofANGOLA,exportedfromSTPAULDELOANDAbetweenJuly1,1848,andJune30,1849,specifyingtheQuantitiesandValueofthoseexportedinPortugueseShipsandinShipsofotherNations。

  Milreis。Milreis。Milreis。Milreis。Milreis。

  *Thisfigurewasoriginallymiscalculatedas718,763420,whichprobablyaffecteditsconversionintoPoundsAL。,1997。

  NetRevenueRevenuefromTotalNetTotalAmount

  YearsofCustomsotherSourcesRevenueofCharges

  TheaboveaccountexhibitsthetotalrevenueandchargesofthegovernmentofStPauldeLoandaineachyear,from1844-45to1848-49,bothincluded。

  TheabovethreetablesarecopiedfromtheappendixtoadispatchsentbyMrGabrieltoViscountPalmerston,datedthe5thofAugust,1850,and,amongotherfactsofinterest,showaverysatisfactorydiminutioninthedutiesuponslaves。

  Thereturnsfrom1818to1844havebeenobtainedfromdifferentsourcesastheaveragerevenue;thosefrom1844to1849arefromtheCustom-houserecords。

  AssoonaswecouldmovetowardtheQuangowedidso,meetinginourcourseseveraltrading-parties,bothnativeandPortugueseWemettwoofthelattercarryingatuskweighing126lbsTheownerafterwardinformedusthatitsfellowontheleftsideofthesameelephantwas130lbs。

  Itwas8feet6-1/2incheslong,and21inchesincircumferenceatthepartonwhichthelipoftheanimalrestsTheelephantwasratherasmallone,asiscommoninthishotcentralregion。

  Someideamaybeformedofthestrengthofhisneckwhenitisrecollectedthatheboreaweightof256lbsTheivorywhichcomesfromtheeastandnortheastofCassangeisverymuchlargerthananytobefoundfurthersouthCaptainNeveshadoneweighing120lbs。,andthisweightisbynomeansuncommonTheyhavebeenfoundweighingeven158lbs。

  BeforereachingtheQuangowewereagainbroughttoastandbyfeverintwoofmycompanions,closetotheresidenceofaPortuguesewhorejoicedinthenameofWilliamTell,andwholivedhereinspiteoftheprohibitionofthegovernmentWewereusingthewaterofapond,andthisgentleman,havingcometoinvitemetodinner,drankalittleofit,andcaughtfeverinconsequenceIfmalariousmatterexistedinwater,itwouldhavebeenawonderhadweescaped;

  for,travelinginthesun,withthethermometerfrom96Degreesto98Degreesintheshade,theevaporationfromourbodiescausingmuchthirst,wegenerallypartookofeverywaterwecametoWehadprobablythusmorediseasethanothersmightsufferwhohadbettershelter。

  MrTellremarkedthathisgardenwasratherbarren,beingstill,ashesaid,wild;butwhenmoreworkeditwouldbecomebetter,thoughnomanurebeappliedMymenwerebusycollectingabetterbreedoffowlsandpigeonsthanthoseintheirowncountry。

  MrTellpresentedthemwithsomelargespecimensfromRioJaneiro。

  Ofthesetheywerewonderfullyproud,andborethecockintriumphthroughthecountryoftheBalonda,asevidenceofhavingbeentothesea。

  ButwhenatthevillageofShinte,ahyaenacameintoourmidstwhenwewereallsoundasleep,andpickedoutthegiantinhisbasketfromeighty-fourothers,andhewaslost,tothegreatgriefofmymen。

  Theanxietythesepeoplehavealwaysshowntoimprovethebreedoftheirdomesticanimalsis,Ithink,afavorablepointintheircharacter。

  OnlookingatthecommonbreedsinthepossessionofthePortuguese,whicharemerelynativecattle,andseeingthemslaughterbothheifer-calvesandcows,whichtheythemselvesneverdo,andlikewisemakingnouseofthemilk,theyconcludedthatthePortuguesemustbeaninferiorraceofwhitemenTheyneverceasedremarkingonthefinegroundforgardensoverwhichwewerepassing;andwhenIhappenedtomentionthatmostoftheflourwhichthePortugueseconsumedcamefromanothercountry,theyexclaimed,“Aretheyignorantoftillage?”

  “Theyknownothingbutbuyingandselling:theyarenotmen。”

  IhopeitmayreachtheearsofmyAngolesefriends,andthattheymaybestirreduptodeveloptheresourcesoftheirfinecountry。

  OncomingbacktoCypriano’svillageonthe28th,wefoundthathisstep-fatherhaddiedafterwehadpassed,and,accordingtothecustomofthecountry,hehadspentmorethanhispatrimonyinfuneralorgiesHeactedwithhiswontedkindness,though,unfortunately,drinkinghasgothimsodeeplyindebtthathenowkeepsoutofthewayofhiscreditorsHeinformedusthatthesourceoftheQuangoiseightdays,oronehundredmiles,tothesouthofthis,andinarangecalledMosamba,inthecountryoftheBasongoWecanseefromthisasortofbreakinthehighlandwhichstretchesawayroundtoTalaMongongo,throughwhichtherivercomes。

  Adeathhadoccurredinavillageaboutamileoff,andthepeoplewerebusybeatingdrumsandfiringgunsThefuneralritesarehalffestive,halfmourning,partakingsomewhatofthecharacterofanIrishwake。

  Thereisnothingmoreheart-rendingthantheirdeathwails。

  Whenthenativesturntheireyestothefutureworld,theyhaveaviewcheerlessenoughoftheirownutterhelplessnessandhopelessness。

  Theyfancythemselvescompletelyinthepowerofthedisembodiedspirits,andlookupontheprospectoffollowingthemasthegreatestofmisfortunes。

  Hencetheyareconstantlydeprecatingthewrathofdepartedsouls,believingthat,iftheyareappeased,thereisnoothercauseofdeathbutwitchcraft,whichmaybeavertedbycharmsThewholeofthecoloredpopulationofAngolaaresunkinthesegrosssuperstitions,buthavetheopinion,notwithstanding,thattheyarewiserinthesemattersthantheirwhiteneighborsEachtribehasaconsciousnessoffollowingitsownbestinterestsinthebestwayTheyarebynomeansdestituteofthatself-esteemwhichissocommoninothernations;

  yettheyfearallmannerofphantoms,andhavehalf-developedideasandtraditionsofsomethingorother,theyknownotwhat。

  Thepleasuresofanimallifeareeverpresenttotheirmindsasthesupremegood;and,butfortheinnumerableinvisibilities,theymightenjoytheirluxuriousclimateasmuchasitispossibleformantodo。

  Ihaveoftenthought,intravelingthroughtheirland,thatitpresentspicturesofbeautywhichangelsmightenjoyHowoftenhaveIbeheld,instillmornings,scenestheveryessenceofbeauty,andallbathedinaquietairofdeliciouswarmth!yettheoccasionalsoftmotionimpartedapleasingsensationofcoolnessasofafanGreengrassymeadows,thecattlefeeding,thegoatsbrowsing,thekidsskipping,thegroupsofherd-boyswithminiaturebows,arrows,andspears;

  thewomenwendingtheirwaytotheriverwithwatering-potspoisedjauntilyontheirheads;mensewingundertheshadybanians;

  andoldgray-headedfatherssittingontheground,withstaffinhand,listeningtothemorninggossip,whileotherscarrytreesorbranchestorepairtheirhedges;andallthis,floodedwiththebrightAfricansunshine,andthebirdssingingamongthebranchesbeforetheheatofthedayhasbecomeintense,formpictureswhichcanneverbeforgotten。

  WewereinformedthatachiefnamedGando,livingontheothersideoftheriver,havingbeenaccusedofwitchcraft,waskilledbytheordeal,andhisbodythrownintotheQuango。

  Theferrymendemandedthirtyyardsofcalico,butreceivedsixthankfully。

  Thecanoeswerewretched,carryingonlytwopersonsatatime;

  butmymenbeingwellacquaintedwiththewater,weallgotoverinabouttwohoursandahalfTheyexcitedtheadmirationoftheinhabitantsbythemannerinwhichtheymanagedthecattleanddonkeysincrossing。

  Themoststubbornofbeastsfoundhimselfpowerlessintheirhands。

  Fiveorsix,seizingholdonone,bundledhimatonceintothestream,and,inthispredicament,healwaysthoughtitbestpolicytogiveinandswimThemensometimesswamalongwiththecattle,andforcedthemtogoonbydashingwaterattheirheadsThedifferencebetweenmymenandthoseofthenativetraderswhoaccompanieduswasnevermoreapparentthannow;for,whilemymenfeltaninterestineverythingwepossessedincommon,theirswererathergladwhentheoxenrefusedtocross,for,beingobligedtoslaughterthemonsuchoccasions,thelosstotheirmasterswasawelcomefeasttothemselves。

  OntheeasternsideoftheQuangowepassedon,withoutvisitingourfriendoftheconicalhead-dress,totheresidenceofsomeAmbakistaswhohadcrossedtheriverinordertosecurethefirstchancesoftradeinwax。

  IhavebeforeremarkedontheknowledgeofreadingandwritingthattheseAmbakistaspossess;theyarefamedfortheirloveofallsortsoflearningwithintheirreach,aknowledgeofthehistoryofPortugal,Portugueselaw,etc。,etcTheyareremarkablykeenintrade,andaresometimescalledtheJewsofAngolaTheyareemployedasclerksandwriters,theirfemininedelicacyofconstitutionenablingthemtowriteafinelady’shand,akindofwritingmuchesteemedamongthePortuguese。

  TheyarenotphysicallyequaltotheEuropeanPortuguese,butpossessconsiderableability;anditissaidthathalf-castes,inthecourseofafewgenerations,returntotheblackcolorofthematernalancestor。

  TheblackpopulationofAngolahasbecomemuchdeteriorated。

  Theyarenotsostronglyformedastheindependenttribes。

  Alargequantityofaguardiente,aninferiorkindofspirit,isimportedintothecountry,whichismostinjuriousinitseffects。

  Wesawmanypartiescarryingcasksofthisbanefulliquortotheindependentchiefsbeyond;andwereinformedthatitisdifficultforanytradertoconveyitfar,carriersbeinginthehabitofhelpingthemselvesbymeansofastraw,andtheninjectinganequalamountofwaterwhennearthepointofdeliveryTopreventthis,itiscommontoseelargedemijohnswithpadlocksonthecorksThesearefrequentlystolen。

  Infact,thecarriersaremuchaddictedtobothlyingandthieving,asmightbeexpectedfromthelowestclassofapeopleonwhomthedebasingslavesystemhasactedfortwocenturies

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