Chap. XXI. A MERCHAUT-PKINCE. 423 



a mountainous country, inhabited by the Khnbonda or Ambonda, 

 who are said by Colonel Pires to be a very brave and independent 

 people, but hospitable and fan in then dealings. They are rich 

 in cattle, and then country produces much bees' -wax, which is 

 carefully collected, and brought to the Portuguese, with whom 

 they have always been on good terms. 



The Ako (Haco), a branch of this family, inhabit the left bank 

 of the Coanza above this village, who, instead of bringing slaves 

 for sale, as formerly, now occasionally bring wax for the pur- 

 chase of a slave from the Portuguese. I saw a boy sold for 

 twelve shillings : he said that he belonged to the country of 

 Matiamvo. Here I bought a pah of well-made boots of good 

 tanned leather, which reached above the knee, for five shillings 

 and eight pence, and that was just the price given for one pound 

 of ivory by Mr. Pires ; consequently the boy was worth two pahs 

 of boots, or two poimds of ivory. The Libollo on the S. have not 

 so good a character, but the Coanza is always deep enough to 

 form a line of defence. Colonel Pires is a good example of what 

 an honest industrious man in this country may become. He came 

 as a servant in a ship, and by a long course of persevering labour, 

 has raised himself to be the richest merchant in Angola. He 

 possesses some thousands of cattle ; and, on any emergency, can 

 appear in the field with several hundred armed slaves. 



While enjoying the hospitality of this merchant prince in his 

 commodious residence, which is outside the rocks, and commands 

 a beautiful view of all the adjacent countiy, I learned that all my 

 despatches, maps, and journal, had gone to the bottom of the sea 

 in the mail packet, " Forerunner." I felt so glad that my friend 

 Lieutenant Bedingfeld, to whose care I had committed them, 

 though in the most imminent danger, had not shared a similar 

 fate, that I was at once reconciled to the labour of rewriting. I 

 availed myself of the kindness of Colonel Pires, and remained till 

 the end of the year, reproducing my lost papers. 



Colonel Pires having another establishment on the banks of 

 the Coanza, about six miles distant, I visited it with him about 

 once a week for the purpose of recreation. The difference of 

 temperature caused by the lower altitude, was seen in the cashew- 

 trees, for while, near the rocks, these trees were but coming into 

 flower, those at the lower station were ripening then fruit* 



