402 ACROSS AFEICA. [Chap. 



CHAPTEK XXXI. 



Joao's Settlement. — His Official Position. — Openly trading in Slaves. — Bad Speci- 

 men of the White Man. — A Fetich-man. — Fortune-telling. — Charms. — Infallible 

 Cures. — Arms for Kasongo. — Probable Result. — Belmont. — Miserable Work. — 

 Buffalo Herd. — Opposition by Bihe People. — Civility of the Chiefs. — The Kutato. 

 — An Extraordinary River. — Dangerous Crossing. — Subterranean Streams. — Run- 

 gi. — Suspected of the Evil Eye. — A Fetich-man declares Me free. — Untrustworthy 

 Postmen. — Making and mending Clothes. — A Portuguese in Pawn. — A Festival. 

 — Drink and Debauchery. — A Superior Chief. — Rheumatism. — A. Glimpse of Para- 

 dise. — Visit to King Kongo. — Housed and fed by the Prime Minister's Wife. — 

 The King's own Hut. — His Dress. — Strongly Guarded. — A Drunken Conference. — 

 Pounding Corn. — My Beard excites Curiosity. — Hungry Times. — Caterpillars a 

 Delicacy. 



October, BiDDiNG adieu to Senlior Gongalves, who expressed many 

 1875. kindly wishes for my success, we crossed some open prairie 

 country, aj)parently admirably adapted for growing wheat, and 

 reached the settlement of Joao Baptista Ferreira. 



It was a complete contrast to the one we had just left, being 

 only a shade better than that of Alvez ; but Joao accorded me 

 a thoroughly hearty welcome, and I was not slow to appreciate 

 his kindness. The men whom I had left at Komanante were 

 here awaiting my arrival, and I immediately gave them some 

 of the cloth I had obtained, so that they might clothe them- 

 selves for entry into Benguela, and the remainder I served out 

 to procure rations for the journey to the coast. 



Joao was the white trader of whom I had heard as having 

 been to Kasongo's country, and he was preparing for another 

 journey thither, for since his return from Urua he had paid a 

 visit to Jenje, and exclianged the slaves he obtained from Ka- 

 songo for ivory. 



At Jenj6 he met an Englishman whom he called George, and 

 became most friendly with him. He had received from him a 

 rifle and compass as tokens of amity. 



From Jenje he brought a riding-bullock, and from Benguela 



