606 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



much moved at their gratitude, and said he had never known black men 

 thankful before." 



On the 15th of April, Lieutenant Grandy reached Congo, where he had 

 an audience of the king, by whom he was received in great state, the old 

 king sitting on a chair, under a huge state umbrella, habited in the uniform 

 of a Portuguese lieutenant, and surrounded by his sons and principal chiefs. 

 He expressed himself as being very much gratified at being visited by Eng- 

 lishmen — hoped that many more would follow, and ended with a cordial 

 invitation to the party to make their home in his town, which Lieutenant 

 Grandy describes as follows: — " Congo, or San Salvador of the Portuguese, 

 is situated on an elevated plateau fifteen thousand feet above the sea level. 

 It has formerly been an extensive fortified city, surrounded by a loopholed 

 wall, averaging fifteen feet in height and three feet in thickness, portions of 

 which are still standing. There are also the ruins of an old church or 

 cathedral at the north-west portion of the town. The Portuguese held mili- 

 tary occupation for some years, but abandoned it in 1870, and their forts 

 and barracks are now ruins, completely overgrown with rank grass and 

 shrubs. The town is supplied with water from a beautiful spring, which 

 issues in three small streams from the clay soil half way down the plateau on 

 the east side of the town. There are very few trees near the town ; bananas, 

 plantains, and fowls are plentiful and cheap, and the farms of beans, cassava, 

 and ground-nuts are well kept. There are three markets weekly held near 

 the town. The Congoese are great snuff-takers, are well clothed, and a 

 great many speak Portuguese. They are dark coloured and of average 

 height, but not muscular ; indifferently armed with flint muskets and knives, 

 and very fond of hunting. They make free use of the knife in their quarrels, 

 not using it as a dagger, but giving long sweeping cuts across the back, 

 breast, and stomach. They are habitually lazy. The women are decently 

 clothed, modest and virtuous, and exceedingly industrious. They tend the 

 farms, look after the house, and cook the meals, whilst the man sits quietly 

 down and smokes his pipe. Polygamy is general in the country, and a man 

 is accounted rich according to the number of his wives, who, as soon as 

 married, select a piece of ground which they industriously farm, the produce 

 being sold at the markets for beads, cloth, etc. The King of Congo has two 

 nephews, and, by the laws of the country, one of them, who shall be the 

 choice of the people, succeeds to the throne. Failing a nephew, the people 

 elect a king themselves. The sons of the king do not in any way participate, 

 nor are they entitled to any of his property ; but during his lifetime he can 

 appoint them to chiefships of towns in his kingdom as vacancies occur. The 

 King of Congo commands the roads from the interior to the coast, and levies 

 contributions on all ' chiboukas' of ivory. He was once a very powerful 

 chief, and, being supported by the Portuguese, was much respected; but 



