ombe, and near Bihe. The
situation of Bihe is not well known. When at Sanza we were assured
that it lies nearly south of that point, and eight days distant. This
statement seemed to be corroborated by our meeting many people going to
Matiamvo and to Loanda from Bihe. Both parties had come to Sanza, and
then branched off, one to the east, the other to the west. The source of
the Coanza is thus probably not far from Sanza.

I had the happiness of doing a little good in the way of administering
to the sick, for there are no doctors in the interior of Angola.
Notwithstanding the general healthiness of this fine district and its
pleasant temperature, I was attacked by fever myself. While confined to
my room, a gentleman of color, a canon of the Church, kindly paid me
a visit. He was on a tour of visitation in the different interior
districts for the purpose of baptizing and marrying. He had lately been
on a visit to Lisbon in company with the Prince of Congo, and had
been invested with an order of honor by the King of Portugal as an
acknowledgment of his services. He had all the appearance of a true
negro, but commanded the respect of the people; and Colonel P., who had
known him for thirty years, pronounced him to be a good man. There are
only three or four priests in Loanda, all men of color, but educated for
the office. About the time of my journey in Angola, an offer was made
to any young men of ability who might wish to devote themselves to the
service of the Church, to afford them the requisite education at the
University of Coimbra in Portugal. I was informed, on what seemed good
authority, that the Prince of Congo is professedly a Christian, and that
there are no fewer than twelve churches in that kingdom, the fruits of
the mission established in former times at San Salvador, the capital.
These churches are kept in partial repair by the people, who also keep
up the ceremonies of the Church, pronouncing some gibberish over the
dead, in imitation of the Latin prayers which they had formerly heard.
Many of them can read and write. When a King of Congo dies, the body is
wrapped up in a great many folds of cloth until a priest can come from
Loanda to consecrate his successor. The King of Congo still retains
the title of Lord of Angola, which he had when the Jinga, the original
possessors of the soil, owed him allegiance; and, when he writes to the
Governor of Angola, he places his own name first, as if addressing his
vass