nk of the Quilo, which is
here twenty yards wide, and breast deep.

The country was generally covered with forest, and we slept every night
at some village. I was so weak, and had become so deaf from the effects
of the fever, that I was glad to avail myself of the company of Senhor
Pascoal and the other native traders. Our rate of traveling was only two
geographical miles per hour, and the average number of hours three and
a half per day, or seven miles. Two thirds of the month was spent
in stoppages, there being only ten traveling days in each month. The
stoppages were caused by sickness, and the necessity of remaining in
different parts to purchase food; and also because, when one carrier was
sick, the rest refused to carry his load.

One of the Pombeiros had eight good-looking women in a chain whom he was
taking to the country of Matiamvo to sell for ivory. They always looked
ashamed when I happened to come near them, and must have felt keenly
their forlorn and degraded position. I believe they were captives taken
from the rebel Cassanges. The way in which slaves are spoken of in
Angola and eastern Africa must sound strangely even to the owners when
they first come from Europe. In Angola the common appellation is "o
diabo", or "brutu"; and it is quite usual to hear gentlemen call out, "O
diabo! bring fire." In eastern Africa, on the contrary, they apply the
term "bicho" (an animal), and you hear the phrase, "Call the ANIMAL to
do this or that." In fact, slave-owners come to regard their slaves
as not human, and will curse them as the "race of a dog". Most of the
carriers of my traveling companions were hired Basongo, and required
constant vigilance to prevent them stealing the goods they carried.
Salt, which is one of the chief articles conveyed into the country,
became considerably lighter as we went along, but the carriers shielded
themselves by saying that it had been melted by the rain. Their burdens
were taken from them every evening, and placed in security under the
guardianship of Senhor Pascoal's own slaves. It was pitiable to observe
the worrying life he led. There was the greatest contrast possible
between the conduct of his people and that of my faithful Makololo.

We crossed the Loange, a deep but narrow stream, by a bridge. It becomes
much larger, and contains hippopotami, lower down. It is the boundary of
Londa on the west. We slept also on the banks of the Pezo, now flooded,
and could not but admire