OYPRIABO’S GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. 
235 
We came to the dwelling of Cypriano after dark, and 1 
pitched my little tent in front of it for the night. We had 
the company of mosquitos hero. We never found them 
troublesome on the banks of the pure stroams of Londa. 
On the morning of tho 5th, Cypriano generously supplied 
my men with pumpkins and maize, and then invited mo to 
breakfast, which consisted of groundnuts and roasted 
Maize, then boiled manioc-roots and groundnuts, with 
guavas and honey as a dessert. I felt sincerely g» aleful 
for this magnificent breakfast. 
At dinner Cypriano was equally bountiful, and several 
of his friends joined ns in doing justico to his hospitality 
Before eating, all had water poured on the hands by a 
female slave to wash them. One of the guests cut up a 
fowl with a knife and fork. Neither forks nor spoons were 
U8ed in eating. The repast was partaken of with decency 
and good manners, and concluded by washing the hands as 
at first. 
Much of the civility shown to us here was, no doubt, 
owing to tho flattering letters of recommendation I carried 
from the Chevalier Du Prat, of Capo Town; but I am 
inclined to believe that my friend Cypriano was influenced, 
too, by feelings of genuine kindness, for he quite bared his 
garden in feeding us during the few days which I remained, 
anxiously expecting the clouds to disperse so far as to 
allow of my taking observations for the determination of 
the position of tho Quango. He slaughtered an ox for us, 
and furnished his mother and her maids with manioc-roots, 
to prepare farina for the four or five days of our journey to 
Cassange, and never oven hinted at payment. My wretohed 
appearance must have excited his compassion. 
We were detained by rains and a desire to ascertain oui 
geographical position till Monday, the 10th, and only got 
the latitudo 9° 50' S., and, after three days’ pretty hard 
travelling through the long grass, reached Cassange, the 
farthest inland station of tho Portuguese in Western Africa. 
1 ’"ado my entrance in a somewhat forlorn state as to 
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