6l2 KINDNESS OF THE PORTUGUESE. 



estimation. This may have arisen partly from the 

 pertinacity with which some of them have pursued the 

 slave-trade, and partly from the contrast which they 

 now offer to their illustrious ancestors — the foremost 

 navigators of the world. If my specification of their 

 kindnesses will tend to engender a more respectful feeling 

 to the nation, I shall consider myself well rewarded. We 

 had three large canoes in the company which had lately 

 come up with goods from Senna. They are made very 

 large and strong, much larger than any we ever saw in the 

 interior, and might strike with great force against a rock 

 and not be broken. The men sit at the stern when 

 paddling, and there is usually a little shed made over a 

 part of the canoe to shade the passengers from the sun. 

 The boat in which I went was furnished with such a 

 covering, so I sat quite comfortably. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



WE left Tete at noon on the 22nd, and in the afternoon 

 arrived at the garden of Senhor A. Manoel de Gomes, 

 son-in-law and nephew of Bonga. The Commandant 

 of Tete had sent a letter to the rebel Bonga, stating that 

 he ought to treat me kindly, and he had deputed his 

 son-in-law to be my host. Bonga is not at all equal to 

 his father Nyaude, who was a man of great ability. He 

 is also in bad odour with the Portuguese, because he 

 receives all runaway slaves and criminals. He does not 

 trust the Portuguese, and is reported to be excessively 

 superstitious. I found his son-in-law, Manoel, extremely 

 friendly, and able to converse in a very intelligent manner. 

 He was in his garden when we arrived, but soon dressed 

 himself respectably, and gave us a good tea and dinner. 

 After a breakfast of tea, roasted eggs, and biscuits next 

 morning, he presented six fowls and three goats as pro- 

 visions for the journey. When we parted from him we 

 passed the stockade of Bonga at the confluence of the 

 Luenya, but did not go near it, as he is said to be very 

 suspicious. The Portuguese advised me not to take 

 any observation, as the instruments might awaken fears 

 in Bonga's mind, but Manoel said I might do so if I wished ; 



