CYPRIANO'S GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. *'33 



We came to the dwelling of Cypriano after dark, and I 

 pitched my little tent in front of it for the night. We had 

 the company of mosquitos here. We never found them 

 troublesome on the banks of the pure streams of Londa. 

 On the morning of the 5th, Cypriano generously supplied 

 my men with pumpkins and maize, and then invited me to 

 breakfast, which consisted of groundnuts and roasted 

 maize, then boiled manioc-roots and groundnuts, with 

 guavas and honey as a dessert. I felt sincerely grateful 

 for this magnificent breakfast. 



At dinner Cypriano was equally bountiful, and several 

 of his friends joined us in doing justice to his hospitality 

 Before eating, all had water poured on the hands by a 

 female slave to wash them. One of the guests cut up a 

 fowl with a knife and fork. Neither forks nor spoons were 

 used in eating. The repast was partaken of with decency 

 and good manners, and concluded by washing the hands as 

 at first. 



Much of the civility shown to us here was, no doubt, 

 owing to the flattering letters of recommendation I carried 

 from the Chevalier Du Prat, of Cape Town; but I am 

 inclined to believe that my friend Cypriano was influenced, 

 too, by feelings of genuine kindness, for he quite bared his 

 garden in feeding us during the few days which I remained, 

 anxiously expecting the clouds to disperse so far as to 

 allow of my taking observations for the determination of 

 the position of the Quango. He slaughtered an ox for us, 

 and furnished his mother and her maids with manioc-roots, 

 to prepare farina for the four or five days of our journey to 

 Cassange, and never even hinted at payment. My wretched 

 appearance must have excited his compassion. 



We were detained by rains and a desire to ascertain our 

 geographical position till Monday, the 10th, and only got 

 the latitude 9° 50' S., and, after three days' pretty hard 

 travelling through the long grass, reached Cassange, the 

 farthest inland station of the Portuguese in Western Africa. 

 I made my entrance in a somewhat forlorn state as to 



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