Chap. XIX. ARRIVAL AT CASSANGK. 240 



account is named " wood-ineal." Though insipid, it is 

 relished by those who have become accustomed to it, even 

 after they have returned to Europe. 



The manioc cultivated here is of the sweet variety : the 

 bitter species, to which we were accustomed in Londa, is not 

 often found in this fertile valley. Many of the inhabitants 

 were busy planting maize, though it was now the beginning 

 of winter ; what we were now eating was planted in the 

 beginning of February. The soil is exceedingly fertile, of a 

 dark red colour, and covered with a dense crop of coarse 

 grass, the stalks of which are generally as thick as goose- 

 quills. I was told by the Portuguese that, when a marauding 

 party of Ambonda once came for plunder while it was in a 

 dry state, the Bangala encircled them with a fire which com- 

 pletely destroyed them. I can easily believe this, for on one 

 uccasion I nearly lost my waggon by fire, in a valley where 

 the grass was only about three feet high. We were roused by 

 the roar, as of a torrent, made by the fire coming from the 

 windward. I immediately set fire to that on our leeward, and 

 had just time to drag the waggon on to the bare space there, 

 before the windward flames reached the place where it had 

 stood. 



We were detained by rains, and b}^ my desire to ascertain 

 our geographical position, until Monday the 10th, when I 

 succeeded in getting the latitude (9° 50' S.). We then started, 

 and, after three days' hard travelling through the long grass, 

 reached Cassange, the farthest inland station of the Portuguese 

 in Western Africa, in lat. 9° 37' 30" S., and long. 17° 49' E. 

 We crossed several streams running into the Quango ; but as 

 the grass continued to tower about two feet over our heads, 

 it generally obstructed our view of the adjacent country. I 

 made my entrance among our Portuguese allies in a somewhat 

 forlorn state as to clothing. The first gentleman I met in the 

 village asked if I had a passport, and said that I must appear 

 before the authorities. I gladly accompanied him to the 

 house of the Commandant, Senhor Pego, who, having in- 

 spected my passport, politely asked me to supper. As I had 

 eaten nothing except the farina of Cypriano from the Quango 

 to this, I might have appeared particularly ravenous to the 

 other gentlemen around the table ; but they seemed to under 



