394 CYPKIANO'S GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. 



stration of the abundance of ammunition they possessed would 

 make us run ; but when we continued to move quietly to the ford, 

 they proceeded no farther than our sleeping-place. Cypriano as- 

 sisted us in making a more satisfactory arrangement with the fer- 

 rymen than parting with my blanket ; and as soon as we reached 

 the opposite bank we were in the territory of the Bangala, who 

 are subjects of the Portuguese, and often spoken of as the Cas- 

 sanges or Cassantse ; and happily all our difficulties with the bor- 

 der tribes were at an end. 



Passing with light hearts through the high grass by a narrow 

 footpath for about three miles to the west of the river, we came to 

 several neat square houses, with many cleanly-looking half-caste 

 Portuguese standing in front of them to salute us. They are all 

 enrolled in the militia, and our friend Cypriano is the commander 

 of a division established here. The Bangala were very trouble- 

 some to the Portuguese traders, and at last proceeded so far as to 

 kill one of them ; the government of Angola then sent an expedi- 

 tion against them, which being successful, the Bangala were dis- 

 persed, and are now returning to their former abodes as vassals. 

 The militia are quartered among them, and engage in trade and 

 agriculture for their support, as no pay is given to this branch of 

 the service by the government. 



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 musquitoes here. We never found them troublesome on the 

 banks of the pure streams of Londa. On the morning of the ath 

 Cypriano generously supplied my men with pumpkins and maize, 

 and then invited me to breakfast, which consisted of ground-nuts 

 and roasted maize, then boiled manioc roots and ground-nuts, 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 eat- 

 ing, 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. 



All of them could read and write with ease. I examined the 



