and on that account
is named "wood-meal". It is insipid, and employed to lick up any gravy
remaining on one's plate. Those who have become accustomed to it relish
it even after they have returned to Europe.

The manioc cultivated here is of the sweet variety; the bitter, to which
we were accustomed in Londa, is not to be found very extensively in
this fertile valley. May is the beginning of winter, yet many of the
inhabitants were busy planting maize; that which we were now eating was
planted in the beginning of February. The soil is exceedingly fertile,
of a dark red color, and covered with such a dense, heavy crop of coarse
grass, that when a marauding party of Ambonda once came for plunder
while it was in a dried state, the Bangala encircled the common enemy
with a fire which completely destroyed them. This, which is related on
the authority of Portuguese who were then in the country, I can easily
believe to be true, for the stalks of the grass are generally as thick
as goose-quills, and no flight could be made through the mass of grass
in any direction where a footpath does not exist. Probably, in the case
mentioned, the direction of the wind was such as to drive the flames
across the paths, and prevent escape along them. On one occasion I
nearly lost my wagon by fire, in a valley where the grass was only about
three feet high. We were roused by the roar, as of a torrent, made by
the fire coming from the windward. I immediately set fire to that on our
leeward, and had just time to drag the wagon on to the bare space there
before the windward flames reached the place where it had stood.

We were detained by rains and a desire to ascertain our geographical
position till Monday, the 10th, and only got the latitude 9d 50' S.;
and, after three days' pretty hard traveling through the long grass,
reached Cassange, the farthest inland station of the Portuguese in
Western Africa. We crossed several fine little streams running into
the Quango; and as the grass continued to tower about two feet over our
heads, it generally obstructed our view of the adjacent country, and
sometimes hung over the path, making one side of the body wet with the
dew every morning, or, when it rained, kept me wet during the whole day.
I made my entrance in a somewhat forlorn state as to clothing among our
Portuguese allies. The first gentleman I met in the village asked if
I had a passport, and said it was necessary to take me before the
authoritie