Chap. XX. 
PEESENTS FOR SEKELETU. 
397 
vaKd. Keligion seems to have no eonuexiou with the change. 
Perhaps the climate may have some influence in subduing their 
tobulent disposition, for the inhabitants generally are a timid 
race; they are not at all so brave as our Caffres. The people of 
Ambriz ran away like a flock of sheep, and allowed the Portu¬ 
guese to take possession of their copper-mines and country, 
without striking a blow. If we must have convict settlements, 
attention to the climate might be of advantage in the selection. 
Here even bulls are much tamer than with us. I never met vdth 
a ferocious one in tliis country, and the Portuguese use them 
generally for riding; an ox is seldom seen. 
The objects which I had m view in opening up the country, as 
stated in a few notes of my jommey, published in the news¬ 
papers of Angola, so commended themselves to the general 
government and merchants of Loanda, that, at the instance of 
his Excellency the Bishop, a handsome present for Sekeletu was 
granted by the Board of Public Works (Junta da Fazenda Pub- 
lica). It consisted of a colonel’s complete uniform and a horse for 
the chief, and suits of clothing for all the men who accompanied 
me. The merchants also made a present, by pubhc subscription, 
of handsome specimens of all their articles of trade, and two 
donkeys, for the purpose of introducing the breed into his country, 
as tsetse cannot kill this beast of burden. These presents were 
accompanied by letters from the Bishop and merchants; and I 
was kindly favoiu^ed with letters of recommendation to the Por¬ 
tuguese authorities in Eastern Africa. 
I took with me a good stock of cotton-cloth, fresh suppHes of 
ammunition and beads, and gave each of my men a musket. As 
my companions had amassed considerable quantities of goods, 
they were unable to carry mine, but the bishop furnished me 
with twenty carriers, and sent forward orders to all the com¬ 
mandants of the districts through which we were to pass, to 
render me every assistance in then* power. Being now supplied 
with a good new tent made by my friends on board the Philomel, 
we left Loanda on the 20th September, 1854, and passed round 
by sea to the mouth of the river Bengo. Ascending this river, 
we went through the district in which stand the ruins of the 
convent of St. Antonio; thence into IcoUo i Bengo, which con¬ 
tains a population of 6530 blacks, 172 mulattoes, and 11 whites. 
