400 DEVOTION OF THE MEN. 



37' 46" S., long. 16 9 59' B.) we expected to get a little 

 seed- wheat, but this was not now to be found in Angola. 

 The underlying rock of the whole of this section is that 

 same sandstone which we have before noticed, but it 

 gradually becomes finer in the grain, with the addition of 

 a little mica, the further we go eastward ; we enter upon 

 clay-shale at Tala Mungongo (lat. 9 42' $7" S., long. iy° 

 27' B.), and find it dipping a little to the west. The 

 general geological structure is a broad fringe of mica and 

 sandstone schist (about 15 B.), dipping in towards the 

 centre of the country, beneath these horizontal and sedi- 

 mentary rocks of more recent date, which form an inland 

 basin. The fringe is not, however, the highest in altitude, 

 though the oldest in age. 



While at this latter place, we met a native of Bihe who 

 has visited the country of Shinte three times, for the 

 purposes of trade. He gave us some of the news of that 

 distant part, but not a word of the Makololo, who have 

 always been represented in the countries to the north as a 

 desperately savage race, whom no trader could visit with 

 safety. The half-caste traders whom we met at Shinte's, 

 had returned to Angola with sixty-six slaves and upwards 

 of fifty tusks of ivory. As we came along the path, we 

 daily met long lines of carriers bearing large square masses 

 of bees'-wax, each about a hundred pounds weight, and 

 numbers of elephants' tusks, the property of Angolese 

 merchants. Many natives were proceeding to the coast 

 also on their own account, carrying bees'-wax, ivory, and 

 sweet oil. They appeared to travel in perfect security ; 

 and at different parts of the road, we purchased fowls from 

 them at a penny each. My men took care to celebrate 

 their own daring in having actually entered ships, while 

 the natives of these parts, who had endeavoured to frighten 

 them on their way down, had only seen them at a distance. 

 Poor fellows ! they were more than ever attentive to me ; 

 and, as they were not obliged to erect sheds for themselves, 

 in consequence of finding them already built at the different 

 sleeping-places, all their care was bestowed in making me 

 comfortable. Mashauana, as usual, made his bed with his 

 head close to my feet, and never during the entire journey 

 did I have to call him twice, for anything I needed. 



During our stay at Tala Mungongo, our attention was 

 attracted to a species of red ant, which infests different 

 parts of this country. It is remarkably fond of animal 



