ARRIVAL AT CASSANGE, 343 



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

 be found very extensively in this fertile valley. May is 

 the beginning of winter, yet many of the inhabitants were 

 busy planting maize ; that which we were now eating was 

 planted in the beginning of February. The soil is ex- 

 ceedingly fertile, of a dark red colour, and covered with 

 such a dense heavy crop of coarse grass, that when a 

 marauding party of Ambonda once came for plunder 

 while it was in a dried state, the Bangala encircled the 

 common enemy with a fire which completely destroyed 

 them. This, which is related on the authority of Portu- 

 guese who were then in the country, I can easily believe 

 to be true, for the stalks of the grass are generally as thick 

 as goose-quills, and no flight could be made through the 

 mass of grass in any direction where a footpath does not 

 exist. Probably, in the case mentioned, the direction of 

 the wind was such, as to drive the flames across the paths, 

 and prevent escape along them. On one occasion 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 a desire to ascertain 

 our geographical position, till Monday, the 10th, and only 

 got the latitude 9 50' S. j and after three days' pretty 

 hard travelling through the long grass, reached Cassange, 

 the farthest inland station of the Portuguese in Western 

 Africa. We crossed several fine little streams running 

 into the Quango ; and as the grass continued to tower 

 about two feet over our heads, it generally obstructed 

 our view of the adjacent country, and sometimes hung 

 over the path, making one side of the body wet with the 

 dew every morning, or when it rained kept me wet during 

 the whole day. I made my entrance, in a somewhat 

 forlorn state as to clothing, among our Portuguese allies. 

 The first gentleman I met in the village asked if I had a 

 passport, and said, it was necessary to take me before the 

 authorities. As I was in the same state of mind, in which 

 individuals are, who commit a petty depredation, in order 

 to obtain the shelter and food of a prison, I gladly accom- 

 panied him to the house of the Commandant or Chefe, 



