Chap. XX. PEESENTS FOR SEKELETU. 397 



valid. Religion seems to have no connexion 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 at all 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, 

 without striking a blow. If we must have convict settlements, 

 attention to the climate might be of advantage in the selection. 

 Here even bulls are much tamer than with us. I never met with 

 a ferocious one in this country, and the Portuguese use them 

 generally 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 news- 

 papers of Angola, so commended themselves to the general 

 government and merchants of Loanda, that, at the instance of 

 liis Excellency the Bishop, a handsome present for Sekeletu was 

 granted by the Board of Public Works (Junta da Fazenda Pub- 

 lica). It consisted of a colonel's complete uniform and a horse for 

 the chief, and suits of clothing for all the men who accompanied 

 me. The merchants 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 cannot kill this beast of burden. These presents were 

 accompanied by letters from the Bishop and merchants ; and I 

 was kindly favoured with letters of recommendation to the Por- 

 tuguese authorities 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 com- 

 mandants of the districts through which we were to pass, to 

 render me every assistance in their power. Being now supplied 

 with a good new tent made by my friends on board the Philomel, 

 we left Loanda on the 20th September, 1854, and passed round 

 by sea to the mouth 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 con- 

 tains a population of 6530 blacks, 172 mulattoes, and 11 whites, 



