390 ACEOSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



October, swim, would Undoubtedly have been drowned, bad not some of 

 1875. jjjy men been with me sufficiently near at band to render as- 

 sistance. 



Tbe Kwanza, so far as I could learn, is navigable for some 

 distance above tbe point at wbicb we crossed. And since tbe 

 vessels of tbe Kwanza Steamsbip Company trade regularly to 

 tbe falls just above Dondo, it would appear tbat a moderate ex- 

 penditure of capital and labor would enable small steamers to 

 be put on its upper waters, thus to intercept the greater portion 

 of tbe trade between Benguela and tbe interior, and assist ma- 

 terially in opening up tbe country to European enteriDrise. 



Leaving tbe river, we soon entered a wooded and billy coun- 

 try witb many villages situated in large groves, in some in- 

 stances surrounded by stockades. The huts were large and well 

 built, being usually square, witli walls about eigbt feet liigb, 

 and tbatcbed pointed roofs. Tbe walls were plastered with 

 white or light-red mud, and often decorated with rough sketch- 

 es of men carrying hammocks, pigs, horses, etc. 



There were also numerous granaries built on jDlatfonns raised 

 about three feet from the ground. They stood eight to ten 

 feet high, were circular in form, with a diameter of six or seven 

 feet, and were covered by a movable conical roof of grass, the 

 only means of access being by its removal. 



Pigs and fowls were in great plenty ; but the people being 

 satiated with cloth, owing to their constant intercourse with 

 the coast, would sell us nothing, or asked higher prices than we 

 could afford. 



After some hours' marching, we arrived at a village which 

 seemed far more prosperous and civilized than the rest, and, on 

 entering, were accosted by two very respectable-looking mulat- 

 toes who were tbe proprietors. They invited me to stay and 

 drink with them ; but, bearing that tbe Kokema was close in 

 front, I pressed onward, and arrived early in the afternoon at a 

 village named Kapeka, near the river. 



Here I halted under some large trees to await Alvez's arrival ; 

 but he did not make his appearance until nearly sunset. He 

 was then accompanied by the two mulattoes and a number of 

 their wives, all dressed in their best, and some carrying small 

 kegs of pombe. 



