630 DECADENCE OF POETUGUESE POWEK. Chap. XXXI. 



They were then removed to Tete, and here they enjoy much better 

 health, though, from the abundance of spirits distilled from various 

 plants, wild fruits, and grain, in which pernicious beverage they 

 largely indulge, besides partaking chiefly of unwholesome native 

 food, better health could scarcely have been expected. The 

 natives here understand the method of distillation by means of 

 gun-barrels, and a succession of earthen pots filled with water to 

 keep them cool. The general report of the fever here is that, 

 while at Kilimane the fever is continuous, at Tete a man re- 

 covers in about three days. The mildest remedies only are used 

 at first, and, if that period be passed, then the more severe. 



The fort of Tete has been the salvation of the Portuguese power 

 in this quarter. It is a small square building, with a thatched 

 apartment for the residence of the troops ; and though there are 

 but few guns, they are in a much better state than those of any 

 fort in the interior of Angola. The cause of the decadence of 

 the Portuguese power in this region is simply this. In former 

 times considerable quantities of grain, as wheat, millet, and maize, 

 were exported, also coffee, sugar, oil, and indigo, besides gold- 

 dust and ivory. The cultivation of grain was carried on by 

 means of slaves, of whom the Portuguese possessed a large num- 

 ber. The gold-dust was procured by washing at various points 

 on the north, south, and west of Tete. A merchant took all his 

 slaves with him to the washings, carrying as much calico and 

 other goods as he could muster. On arriving at the washing- 

 place he made a present to the chief, of the value of about a 

 pound sterling. The slaves were then divided into parties, each 

 headed by a confidential servant, who not only had the supervision 

 of his squad while the washing went on, but bought dust from the 

 inhabitants, and made a weekly return to his master. When 

 several masters united at one spot, it was called a " Bara," and 

 they then erected a temporary church, in which a priest from one 

 of the missions performed mass. Both chiefs and people were 

 favourable to these visits, because the traders purchased grain for 

 the sustenance of the slaves with the goods they had brought. 

 They continued at this labour until the whole of the goods 

 were expended, and by this means about 130 lbs. of gold were 

 annually produced. Probably more than this was actually ob- 

 tained, but, as it was an article easily secreted, this alone was 



