488 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
time to time they had, it appears, no objection to feast 
off a fellow-creature. 
I did not succeed in learning the name of the 
governor who lent armed assistance to the younger son 
of Iambi in order to raise him to power, but I feel 
convinced that some record of the circumstance must 
exist among the archives of the Ministry of Marine and 
Ultramar, as such a step could not fail to be communi¬ 
cated to the authorities of the Home Government. 
Cangombi became a great king, and had eight sons, 
whereof six were reigning Sovas of the Bilie', which is 
not so surprising when we consider that the nearest in 
point of kinship to the head of the family assumes the 
reins of power. Thus so long as there are any sons 
living of a native king, the grandsons are set aside, and 
the eldest son of the eldest son only ascends the throne 
in default of any uncles,—younger brothers of his 
father. On account of this law, Calmeue, the eldest 
son of Cangombi, inherited his dignity, and through 
successive deaths his brothers Morna, Bandua, Ungulo, 
Leamula, and Caiangula, did so likewise. The two sons 
of Cangombi who were not Sovas were Calali and Ochi, 
they having died early. Ochi came next in order of 
seniority to Calmeue, and leaving a son, the latter was 
proclaimed Sova on the death of his uncle Caiangula, 
as his father’s eldest brother left no issue. This Sova 
was named Muquinda, and on his death the government 
passed to his cousin Gubengui, eldest son of the Sova 
Moma, the nearest of kin to his father. Gubengui was 
followed in turn by another brother Quilungo, who 
died, in the act of his proclamation, within his very 
capital. 
Of all the eight sons of Cangombi, only one legitimate 
descendant remained, son of the Sova Bandua, who 
then assumed power. This was Quillemo, the reigning 
potentate of the Bilie. There nevertheless exists a 
natural son of Moma, by name Canhaniangole, who is 
pointed out as Quillemo’s successor. And as he has 
many sons, they will in all human probability reign 
after him. It will be seen from this brief summary of 
