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。