366 
CYPRIANO’S GENEROUS HOSPITALITY. CHAr. XIX. 
stration of tlie abundance of ammunition they possessed, would 
make us run; but when we continued to move quietly to the 
ford, they proceeded no farther than our sleeping-place. Cypriano 
assisted us in making a more satisfactory arrangement with the 
ferrymen than parting with my blanket; and as soon as we 
reached the opposite bank, we were in the territory of the Ban- 
gala, who are subjects of the Portuguese, and often spoken of as 
the Cassanges or Cassantse; and happily all our difficulties with 
the border tribes were at an end. 
Passing with hght hearts through the high grass by a narrow 
footpath for about tffiee miles to the west of the river, we came to 
several neat square houses with many cleanly-looking half-caste 
Portuguese standing in front of them to salute us. They are all 
enrolled in the militia, and our friend Cypriano is the commander 
of a division established here. The Bangala were very trouble¬ 
some to the Portuguese traders, and at last proceeded so far as to 
kill one of them; the government of Angola then sent an expe¬ 
dition against them, which being successful, the Bangala were 
dispersed, and are now returning to their former abodes as vassals. 
The mditia are quartered amongst them, and engage in trade and 
agTicultm’e for their support, as no pay is given to this branch of 
the service by the government. 
We came to the dwelling of Cypriano after dark, and I pitched 
my httle tent in front of it for the night. We had the company 
of mosquitoes here. We never found them troublesome on the 
banks of the pure streams of Londa. On the morning of the 5th 
Cypriano generously supplied my men with pumpkins and maize, 
and then invited me to breakfast, which consisted of ground-nuts 
and roasted maize, then boded manioc-roots and ground-nuts, 
with guavas and honey as a dessert. I felt sincerely gTateful for 
this magnificent breakfast. 
At dinner Cypriano was equally bountiful, and several of his 
friends joined us in doing justice to his hospitahty. 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 used in eating. The repast was partaken of 
with decency and good manners, and concluded by washing the 
hands as at first. 
All of them could read and write with ease. I examined the 
