396 ARRIVAL AT CASSANGE. 



to which we were accustomed in Londa, is not to be found very 

 extensively in this fertile valley. May is the beginning of win- 

 ter, yet many of the inhabitants were busy planting maize ; that 

 which we were now eating was planted in the beginning of 

 February. The soil is exceedingly fertile, of a dark red color, 

 and covered with such a dense, heavy crop of coarse grass, that 

 when a marauding party of Ambonda once came for plunder 

 while it was in a dried state, the Bangala encircled the common 

 enemy with a fire which completely destroyed them. This, which 

 is related on the authority of Portuguese who were then in the 

 country, I can easily believe to be true, for the stalks of the 

 grass are generally as thick as goose-quills, and no flight could be 

 made through the mass of grass in any direction where a foot- 

 path does not exist. Probably, in the case mentioned, the direc- 

 tion of the wind was such as to drive the flames across the paths, 

 and prevent escape along them. On one occasion I nearly lost 

 my wagon by fire, in a valley where the grass was only about 

 three feet high. We were roused by the roar, as of a torrent, 

 made by the fire coming from the windward. I immediately set 

 fire to that on our leeward, and had just time to drag the wagon 

 on to the bare space there before the windward flames reached the 

 place where it had stood. 



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 traveling 

 through the long grass, reached Cassange, the farthest inland 

 station of the Portuguese in Western Africa. We crossed several 

 fine little streams running into the Quango ; and as the grass 

 continued to tower about two feet over our heads, it generally 

 obstructed our view of the adjacent country, and sometimes 

 hung over the path, making one side of the body wet with the 

 dew every morning, or, when it rained, kept me wet during the 

 whole day. I made my entrance in a somewhat forlorn state as 

 to clothing among our Portuguese allies. The first gentleman I 

 met in the village asked if I had a passport, and said it was 

 necessary to take me before the authorities. As I was in the 

 same state of mind in which individuals are who commit a petty 

 depredation in order to obtain the shelter and food of a prison, 

 I gladly accompanied him to the house of the commandant or 



