Chap. XXI. GRADATIONS OF SOCIETY. 411 



viewing the present fruits of former missions, it is impossible not 

 to feel assured that, if the Jesuit teaching has been so permanent, 

 that of Protestants, who leave the Bible in the hands of their con- 

 verts, will not be less abiding. The chief Bango has built a large 

 two-story house close by the convent, but superstitious fears pre- 

 vent him from sleeping hi it. The Portuguese take advantage 

 of all the gradations into winch native society has divided itself. 

 This man, for instance, is still a sova or chief, has his councillors, 

 and maintains the same state, as when the country was indepen- 

 dent. When any of his people are guilty of theft, he pays down 

 the amount of goods stolen at once, and reimburses himself out of 

 the property of the thief so effectually, as to be benefited by the 

 transaction. The people under him are divided into a number of 

 classes. There are his councillors, as the highest, who are generally 

 head-men of several villages, and the carriers, the lowest free men. 

 One class above the last, obtains the privilege of wearing shoes 

 from the chief, by paying for it ; another, the soldiers or militia, 

 pay for the privilege of serving, the advantage being, that they are 

 not afterwards liable to be made earners. They are also divided 

 into gentlemen and little gentlemen, and, though quite black, speak 

 of themselves as white men, and of the others, who may not wear 

 shoes, as " blacks." The men of all these classes trust to their 

 Wives for food, and spend most of then time in drinking the palm- 

 toddy. This toddy is the juice of the palm-oil tree {Elms Qui- 

 neensis), which, when tapped, yields a sweet clear liquid, not at 

 all intoxicating while fresh, but, when allowed to stand till the 

 afternoon, causes inebriation and many crimes. This toddy, called 

 malova, is the bane of the country. Culprits are continually 

 brought before the commandants for assaidts, committed through 

 its influence. Men come up with deep gashes on then heads, and 

 one, who had burned his father's house, I saw making a profound 

 bow to Mr. Canto, and volunteering to explain why he did the 

 deed. 



There is also a sort of fraternity of freemasons, named Em- 

 paeasseiros, into which no one is admitted unless he is an expert 

 hunter, and can shoot well with the gun. They are distinguished 

 by a fillet of buffalo-hide around then* heads, and are employed 

 as messengers in all cases requiring express. They are very trust- 

 worthy, and, when on active service, form the best native troops 



