Chap. XVI. KECEPTIOjST BY SHINTE. 291 



They are generally very dark iu colour, but several are to be 

 seen of a lighter hue ; many of the slaves who have been ex- 

 ported to Brazil, have gone from this region ; but while they 

 have a general similarity to the typical negro, I never could, 

 from my own observation, think that our ideal negro, as seen in 

 tobacconists' shops, is the true type. A large proportion of the 

 Balonda, indeed, have heads somewhat elongated backwards and 

 upwards, thick lips, flat noses, elongated ossa calces, &c. &c. ; 

 but there are also many good-looking, well-shaped heads and 

 persons among them. 



17th, Tuesday. — We were honoured with a grand reception by 

 Shinte about eleven o'clock. Sambanza claimed the honour of 

 presenting us, Manenko being slightly indisposed. The native 

 Portuguese and Mambari went fully armed with guns, in order 

 to give Shinte a salute ; their drummer and trumpeter making 

 all the noise that very old instruments would produce. 

 The kotla, or place of audience, was about a hundred yards 

 square, and two graceful specimens of a species of banian stood 

 near one end ; under one of these sat Shinte, on a sort of throne 

 covered with a leopard's skin. He had on a checked jacket, and 

 a kilt of scarlet baize edged with green ; many strings of large 

 beads hung from his neck, and Ins limbs were covered with iron 

 and copper armlets and bracelets ; on his head he wore a helmet 

 made of beads woven neatly together, and crowned with a great 

 bunch of goose-feathers. Close to him sat three lads with large 

 sheaves of arrows over their shoulders. 



AMien we entered the kotla, the whole of Manenko's party 

 saluted Shinte by clapping their hands ; and Sambanza did 

 obeisance by rubbing his chest and arms with ashes. One of 

 the trees being unoccupied, I retreated to it for the sake of the 

 shade, and my whole party did the same. We were now about 

 forty yards from the chief, and coidd see the whole ceremony. 

 The different sections of the tribe came forward in the same way 

 that we did, the head man of each making obeisance with ashes 

 which he carried with him for the purpose ; then came the sol- 

 diers, all armed to the teeth, running and shouting towards us, 

 with their swords drawn, and their faces screwed up »so as to 

 appear as savage as possible, for the purpose, I thought, of 

 trying whether they could not make us take to our heels. As 



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