144 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



way through these unfriendly people. In answer to the threats and demands 

 of the chief, he was told firmly that they " should certainly go forward next 

 day, and if he commenced hostilities, the blame before God would be his ; " 

 and Livingstone's interpreter added of his own accord, " How many white 

 men have you killed in this path?" meaning, "You have never killed any 

 white man, and you will find one more difficult to manage than you imagine." 

 Arrived at the Quango, another Bashinje chief insisted upon having an 

 ox, a man, or a gun, before he would permit them to be ferried across. 

 Livingstone's men stripped off the last of their copper rings and gave them to 

 him ; but he still insisted upon a man. While in the midst of this difficulty, 

 a young half-caste Portuguese sergeant of militia, Cypriano di Abreu, who 

 had crossed from the other side to purchase beeswax, made his appearance, 

 and joined with Livingstone in inducing his men to go down to the river 

 bank. There Cypriano succeeded in arranging matters with the ferryman, 

 and to their great joy they found themselves in Portuguese territory. They 

 passed with light hearts through the tall grass, which in the valley of the 

 Quango is frequently over six feet in height. Three miles to the west of the 

 river they came to several neat square houses, before which many cleanly 

 looking half-caste militiamen, part of Cypriano's command, stood and saluted 

 them. 



Livingstone's tent was pitched in front of Cypriano's dwelling, and in 

 the morning his men were plentifully supplied with pumpkins and maize, 

 while Livingstone was entertained to a breakfast in his dwelling, of ground 

 nuts, roasted maize, and boiled manioc roots, with guavas and honey as a 

 dessert. "I felt sincerely grateful," says Livingstone, "for such a breakfast." 

 Several of Cypriano's friends joined them at dinner, before partaking of 

 which, each guest had water poured on his hands to wash them, by a female 

 slave. 



One of the guests cut up a fowl with a knife and fork, the only set in the 

 house, so that they all partook of the fowl with their fingers, their hands 

 being washed at the conclusion of the dinner as at the commencement. 



During the few days they remained with Cypriano, he killed an ox for 

 their entertainment, and stripped his garden of its produce to feed them ; nor 

 did his kindness end here, as he furnished them with as much food as would 

 serve them during the four or five days' journey to Cassange. 



All these half-caste militiamen could read and write ; they were Roman 

 Catholics, but knew nothing about the Bible. The militia are quartered 

 among the Bangala, the people of the district, on account of their having, at 

 one time, made themslves troublesome to the Portuguese traders — killing one 

 of them. When the governor of Angola had reduced them to obedience, the 

 militia were established amongst them to enforce their good behaviour. These 

 militia receive no pay, but maintain themselves by trade and agriculture. 



