have no heart); and they
added, with reference to the slaves, "Why do they let them?" as if they
thought that the slaves had the natural right to rid the world of such
heartless creatures, and ought to do it. The uneasiness of the trader
was continually showing itself, and, upon the whole, he had reason to
be on the alert both day and night. The carriers perpetually stole the
goods intrusted to their care, and he could not openly accuse them, lest
they should plunder him of all, and leave him quite in the lurch. He
could only hope to manage them after getting all the remaining goods
safely into a house in Cabango; he might then deduct something from
their pay for what they had purloined on the way.

Cabango (lat. 9d 31' S., long. 20d 31' or 32' E.) is the dwelling-place
of Muanzanza, one of Matiamvo's subordinate chiefs. His village consists
of about two hundred huts and ten or twelve square houses, constructed
of poles with grass interwoven. The latter are occupied by half-caste
Portuguese from Ambaca, agents for the Cassange traders. The cold in the
mornings was now severe to the feelings, the thermometer ranging from 58
Deg. to 60 Deg., though, when protected, sometimes standing as high
as 64 Deg. at six A.M. When the sun is well up, the thermometer in the
shade rises to 80 Deg., and in the evenings it is about 78 Deg.

A person having died in this village, we could transact no business with
the chief until the funeral obsequies were finished. These occupy about
four days, during which there is a constant succession of dancing,
wailing, and feasting. Guns are fired by day, and drums beaten by night,
and all the relatives, dressed in fantastic caps, keep up the ceremonies
with spirit proportionate to the amount of beer and beef expended. When
there is a large expenditure, the remark is often made afterward, "What
a fine funeral that was!" A figure, consisting chiefly of feathers and
beads, is paraded on these occasions, and seems to be regarded as an
idol.

Having met with an accident to one of my eyes by a blow from a branch in
passing through a forest, I remained some days here, endeavoring, though
with much pain, to draw a sketch of the country thus far, to be sent
back to Mr. Gabriel at Loanda. I was always anxious to transmit an
account of my discoveries on every possible occasion, lest, any thing
happening in the country to which I was going, they should be entirely
lost. I also fondly expected a packet of let