444 DESERTED CONVENT. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Visit a deserted Convent. — Favorable Report of Jesuits and their Teaching. — Gra- 

 dations of native Society. — Punishment of Thieves. — Palm-toddy ; its baneful 

 Effects. — Freemasons. — Marriages and Funerals. — Litigation. — Mr. Canto's Ill- 

 ness. — Bad Behavior of his Slaves. — An Entertainment. — Ideas on Free Labor. — 

 Loss of American Cotton-seed. — Abundance of Cotton in the country. — Sickness 

 of Sekeletu's Horse. — Eclipse of the Sun. — Insects which distill Water. — Experi- 

 ments with them. — Proceed to Ambaca. — Sickly Season. — Office of Commandant. 

 — Punishment of official Delinquents. — Present from Mr. Schut of Loanda. — Visit 

 Pungo Andongo. — Its good Pasturage, Grain, Fruit, etc. — The Fort and columnar 

 Rocks. — The Queen of Jinga. — Salubrity of Pungo Andongo. — Price of a Slave. — 

 A Merchant-prince. — His Hospitality. — Hear of the Loss of my Papers in " Fore- 

 runner." — Narrow Escape from an Alligator. — Ancient Burial-places. — Neglect 

 of Agriculture in Angola. — Manioc the staple Product. — Its Cheapness. — Sickness. 

 — Friendly Visit from a colored Priest. — The Prince of Congo. — No Priests in the 

 Interior of Angola. 



While waiting for the recovery of my men, I visited, in com- 

 pany with my friend Mr. Canto, the deserted convent of St. 

 Hilarion, at Bango, a few miles northwest of Golungo Alto. It 

 is situated in a magnificent valley, containing a population num- 

 bering 4000 hearths. This is the abode of the Sova, or Chief 

 Bango, who still holds a place of authority under the Portuguese. 

 The garden of the convent, the church, and dormitories of the 

 brethren are still kept in a good state of repair. I looked at the 

 furniture, couches, and large chests for holding the provisions of 

 the brotherhood with interest, and would fain have learned some- 

 thing of the former occupants ; but all the books and sacred 

 vessels had lately been removed to Loanda, and even the graves 

 of the good men stand without any record : their resting-places 

 are, however, carefully tended. All speak well of the Jesuits 

 and other missionaries, as the Capuchins, etc., for having attended 

 diligently to the instruction of the children. They were supposed 

 to have a tendency to take the part of the people against the 

 government, and were supplanted by priests, concerning whom 

 no regret is expressed that they were allowed to die out. In 



