SEAMS OP COAL. 
■109 
and hitherto protended to bo friendly with tho Portuguese, 
sent out his mon to capturo as many of thorn as tboy could. 
They killed many for tho sake of thoir arms. This is the 
account which both natives and Portuguese givo of the 
vfiair. 
The merchants wero unable to engage in trade, and com 
norco, which tho slavo-trado had rendered stagnant, was 
now completely obstructed. Tho present commandant of 
Teto, Major Sicard, having great influence among tho 
natives, from his good character, put a stop to tho war 
more than once by his mere presence on tho spot. Wo 
heard of him among tho Banyai as a man with whom they 
would nover fight, because “ ho had a good heart.” Had 
L come down to this coast instead of going to Loanda in 
1853, I should have como among tho belligerents whilo tho 
war was still raging, and should probably havo boon cut 
off. My present approach was just at the conclusion of 
the peace; and when tho Portuguese authorities hero 
were informed, through the kind offices of Lord Clarendon 
and Count do Lavradio, that I was expected to como this 
way, they all declared that such was tho existing stato of 
affairs that no European could possibly pass through the 
tribes. Somo nativos at last camo down the river to Toto 
and said, alluding to tho sextant and artificial horizon, 
that “ tho Son of God had come,” and that he was “ able 
to take tho sun down from the heavens and place it under 
his arm 1” Major Sicard then felt suro that this was tho 
man mentioned in Lord Clarendon’s despatch. 
On mentioning to tho commandant that I had discovered 
a small scam of coal, ho stated that tho Portuguese wore 
already awaro of nino such seams, and that five cf them 
wore on tho opposite bank of tho river. As soon as 1 had 
recovered from my fatigue I wont to examine them. We 
proceeded in a boat to tho mouth of tho Lofubu or lievubu 
which is about two miles below Teto and on tho opposite 
or northern bank. Asconding this about four miles against 
a strong jurront of boautifully-cloar water, wo landod noai 
