492 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
former is a bacl course, for beyond the great expense 
incurred in the presents that it is absolutely necessary 
to make to the persons to whom application for the 
porters is made, the latter are obliged to go, and the 
party obtaining them becomes responsible for their lives 
towards their families or lords. And besides, the persons 
applied to, with the idea of extorting more presents, 
throw all sorts of petty obstacles in the way so as to 
retard the departure of the traveller, and one may be 
sure that their exigencies will increase if the trader be 
in any way dependent on them. The second means is 
far the better, for they who come forward under such 
circumstances are free blacks; they offer themselves 
spontaneously, and should any unfortunately die during 
the trader’s service, he becomes, by the law of the 
country, in no way responsible for the event, inasmuch 
as the men were under no compulsion in making the 
offer. 
This is a favourable occasion to speak of Quissongos, 
and of Pombeiros. Porters and carriers of whatsoever 
tribe, Bihenos or not, form themselves into small parties 
under the command of one among them who becomes 
their chief. This chief, from the coast as far as Caquin- 
gue, is called Quissongo, and in the Bihe and Bailundo 
countries, Pombeiro. It is the Pombeiro who comes 
forward to negotiate, he having ten, or more, or fewer 
carriers at his call. The parties or groups are very 
differently constituted. Some are composed of kinsfolk, 
who select one of their number to act as Pombeiro, and 
they are of course all freemen. Others are formed of in¬ 
dependent members, freemen also, who combine together 
under the orders of a Pombeiro in whom they feel con¬ 
fidence ; and there are others, consisting of groups of 
slaves belonging to the very Pombeiros who command 
them. The duty of the Pombeiro is to watch over his 
band, and he is responsible for its members to the head 
of the caravan. He eats and sleeps with them, and in 
fact may be looked upon as their captain. The Pom¬ 
beiro carries no load, but, in the event of the sickness or 
death of one of his men, he takes his place as temporary 
