Chap. XXI. GRADATIONS OF SOCIETY. 277 



at the furniture, couches, and large chests for holding the 

 provisions of the brotherhood with interest, and would fain 

 have learned something of the former occupants ; but the 

 books and sacred vessels had lately been removed to Loanda. 

 All speak well of the Jesuits and other missionaries, as the 

 Capuchins, &c, for having attended diligently to the instruc- 

 tion of the children. They were supposed to share the 

 political sentiments of the people against the Government, 

 and were therefore supplanted by priests, who have been 

 allowed to die out without being regretted by any. In 

 viewing the results 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 

 converts, will not be less so. The chief Bango has built 

 a large two-story house close by the convent, but he is 

 prevented from sleeping in it by superstitious fears. The 

 Portuguese take advantage of all the gradations into which 

 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 independent. YYhen 

 any of his people are guilty of theft he at once pays down 

 the value of the stolen goods, 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, from the councillors, as the highest, to the 

 carriers, as the lowest among the free men. One class obtains 

 the privilege of wearing shoes from the chief, by paying for 

 it ; another, that of serving as soldiers or militia, by which 

 they become exempt from the liability of serving as carriers. 

 They are also divided into gentlemen and little gentlemen, 

 and, though quite black, speak of themselves as white men, 

 and of others, who may not wear shoes, as " blacks." There 

 is also a sort of fraternity of freemasons, into which no one is 

 admitted unless he is an expert hunter, and can shoot well 

 with the gun. They are named Empacasseiros, and are 

 distinguished by a fillet of buffalo-hide around their heads. 

 They are very trustworthy and active, and are hence employed 

 as messengers in all cases requiring express, and, when on 

 active service, they form the best native troops the Portuguese 

 possess. The militia are of no value as soldiers, but cost the 



