

PRESENTS FOR SEKELETU. 431 



valid. Keligion seems to have no connection with the change. 

 Perhaps the climate may have some influence in subduing their 

 turbulent disposition, for the inhabitants generally are a timid 

 race ; they are not half so brave as our Caffres. The people of 

 Ambriz ran away like a flock of sheep, and allowed the Portu- 

 guese to take possession of their copper mines and country with- 

 out striking a blow. If we must have convict settlements, atten- 

 tion to the climate might be of advantage in the selection. Here 

 even bulls are much tamer than with us. I never met with a fe- 

 rocious one in this country, and the Portuguese use them general- 

 ly for riding ; an ox is seldom seen. 



The objects which I had in view in opening up the country, as 

 stated in a few notes of my journey, published in the newspapers 

 of Angola, so commended themselves to the general government 

 and merchants of Loanda, that, at the instance of his excellency 

 the bishop, a handsome present for Sekeletu was granted by the 

 Board of Public Works (Junta da Fazenda Publica). It consist- 

 ed of a colonel's complete uniform and a horse for the chief, and 

 suits of clothing for all the men who accompanied me. The mer- 

 chants also made a present, by public subscription, of handsome 

 specimens of all their articles of trade, and two donkeys, for the 

 purpose of introducing the breed into his country, as tsetse can 

 not kill this beast of burden. These presents were accompanied 

 by letters from the bishop and merchants ; and I was kindly fa- 

 vored with letters of recommendation to the Portuguese authori- 

 ties in Eastern Africa. 



I took with me a good stock of cotton cloth, fresh supplies of 

 ammunition and beads, and gave each of my men a musket. As 

 my companions had amassed considerable quantities of goods, 

 they were unable to carry mine, but the bishop furnished me with 

 twenty carriers, and sent forward orders to all the commandants 

 of the districts through which we were to pass to render me ev- 

 ery assistance in their power. Being now supplied with a good 

 new tent made by my friends on board the Philomel, we left Lo- 

 anda on the 20th of September, 1854, and passed round by sea to 

 the moutli of the River Bengo. Ascending this river, we went 

 through the district in which stand the ruins of the convent of 

 St. Antonio ; thence into Icollo i Bengo, which contains a popula- 

 tion of 6530 blacks, 172 mulattoes, and 11 whites, and is so 



