l-\nor Parts of Africa. 355 



is requid^e that he ffiould dillinguifh himfclf by his boldnefs 

 and de.xt$ . When he kills an elephant, he is no longer 

 claffid among the boys,, but confidered as having attained to 

 the rank of a man. Eyery ftraflger nut engaged in trade 

 with this nation is confidered as a tlave, but he is well treat- 

 ed, and never afterwards fold; (or thefe people detcft this 

 traffic, and endeavour to free from their Rate of flavery thole 

 unfortunate beings who are deftined by other nations to be 

 fold. When they learn therefore that any flave-dealers are 

 about to pals through or near their territories with a cargo of 

 flaves, they affembie in a . , attack the flave-me/- 



chants, and, having delivered the daves, receive them as 

 members of their nation. Our traveller was obliged to ac- 

 company a party of them on an expedition of this kind, but 

 he had the misfortune to be taken prifoner. The people by 

 whom he was made captive were called the Sovians. 



Being liberated however feme time after, he continued his 

 journey on the 26th of February, 1786, and on the 5th of 

 June following arrived at the village of Alohakam on the 

 frontiers of the antient kingdom of Loango, where he pro- 

 cured a guide who concluded him to the. town of Malemba, 

 the capital of the united kingdoms of Malemba and Cacongo. 

 This country is about four hundred miles in length, and two 

 hundred and forty in breadth ; it is exceedingly fertile, and 

 abounds with vegetables, minerals, and animals of various 

 kinds which are caught for the fake of their fkins. The river 

 Bambo and the lake Samoy fuppiy plenty of fifli and fhell- 

 fifli. The trade of this country is exceedingly advantageous 

 to the Europeans, who for the mereft trifles, fuch as fhells 

 and bits of iron, often get in return the belt fkins and furs in 

 laroe quantities. The king'* (landing army confifts of be- 

 tween ten and twelve thoufand men, who can at any time be 

 collected in the CQurfe of forty-eight hours. The king him- 

 fclf is a good wanior, leads his troops into the field in perfon, 

 and is much dreaded even by his more powerful neighbours : 

 whenever he goes abroad he is ufually attended by four of his 

 miiiiitcrs, who are at the lame time officers, and twelve men. 

 of his body-guard. 



The town is lurrounded by a wall comuofed of fragments 



4 of 



