ALONG THE LESUNGUE. 259 



that he did all to show his appreciation of me, we 

 parted good friends. I was scarce half-way across the 

 river when Marimba followed me, and taking a heavy- 

 ivory ring from his arm begged I would accept it, and 

 requested that if ever I came to the country again I 

 would come and see him, when he would have plenty 

 of cotton to sell me. And so we parted. 



It is a great pity that there is no trading in this 

 country. The natives, who are naturally an industrious 

 people, are anxious for it ; but the Portuguese are too 

 idle and lazy a lot to trade themselves,living as they do 

 from hand to mouth, and shutting out civilized traders 

 from the country. All must acknowledge that no- 

 thing would tend more to the civilization of this part 

 of Africa than the establishment of an honest trade 

 amongst these savages. 



Having followed the course of the Lesungue for 

 about eight miles, the intense heat of the sun caused 

 my porters to sing out for a halt, and half an hour 

 was placed at their disposal, at the expiration of which 

 the march was continued along the sandy banks of 

 the river, which was shallow. We passed through, 

 or rather close by, many small native villages, exten- 

 sive cotton plantations, and large gardens of the cas- 

 tor-oil plant, from which the natives extract the oil, 

 but only use it for the head and body, being unaware 

 of its medicinal properties. 



About one o'clock we ascertained that we were 

 close to the village of Contoonda, and that it would 

 be necessary to send a message to the chief (bear- 

 ing the same name), who had but lately come 

 to this country, and knew nothing of white people. 



s 2 



