27S DESERTED CONVENT. Chap. XXL 



On returning to Golungo Alto I found several of my men 

 laid up with fever. One of my motives for leaving them 

 there was, that they might recover from the fatigue of the 

 journey from Loanda, which had had much more effect upon 

 their feet than hundreds of miles on our way westwards. 

 They had always been accustomed to moisture in their own 

 well-watered land, but the roads from Loanda to Golungo 

 Alto were both hard and dry, and they suffered severely in 

 consequence ; they were, nevertheless, cheerful, and were 

 composing songs to be sung when they should reach home. 

 Their "pluck" was certainly extraordinary; and they re- 

 marked very impressively to me, " It was well you came 

 with Makololo, for no tribe could have done what we have 

 accomplished in coming to the white man's country : we are 

 the true ancients who can tell wonderful things." Two of 

 them now had fever in the continued form, and had become 

 jaundiced; a third was suffering from delirium, He came 

 to his companions one day, and said, " Remain well. I am 

 called away by the gods ! " and set off at the top of his speed- 

 The young men caught him before he had gone a mile, and 

 bound him. By gentle treatment and watching for a few 

 days he recovered. I have observed several instances of this 

 kind in the country, but I believe that confirmed insanity is 

 rare. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Residence at Golungo Alto. — Ambaca. — Pungo Aitdongo. — The 



Coanza. 



While waiting for the recovery of my men I visited the 

 deserted convent of St. Hilarion, at Bango, a few miles north- 

 west of Golungo Alto. It is situated in a magnificent valley, 

 which contains a population numbering 4000 hearths, and 

 is the abode of the Sova, or chief Bango, who still holds a 

 place of authority under the Portuguese. The garden of the 

 convent, the cemetery, the church, and dormitories of the 

 brethren, are still kept in a good state of repair. I lcoked 



