Chap. XXI. 
A MEECHAXT-PRINCE. 
423 
a mountainous country, inhabited by the Kimbonda or Ambonda, 
who are said by Colonel Pires to be a very brave and independent 
people, but hospitable and fair in then dealings. They are rich 
in cattle, and their country produces much bees’-wax, which is 
carefully collected, and brought to the Portuguese, with whom 
they have always been on good terms. 
The Ako (Haco), a branch of this family, inhabit the left bank 
of the Coanza above this village, who, instead of bringing slaves 
for sale, as formerly, now occasionally bring wax for the pur¬ 
chase of a slave from the Portuguese. I saw a boy sold for 
twelve shillings: he said that he belonged to the country of 
Matiamvo. Here I bought a pair of weU-made boots of good 
tanned leather, which reached above the knee, for five shiUings 
and eight pence, and that was just the price given for one pound 
of ivory by Mr. Pires; consequently the boy was worth two pairs 
of boots, or two pounds of ivory. The LiboUo on the S, have not 
so good a character, but the Coanza is always deep enough to 
form a hne of defence. Colonel Pires is a good example of what 
an honest industrious man in this country may become. He came 
as a servant in a sliip, and by a long course of persevering labour, 
has raised himself to be the richest merchant in Angola. He 
possesses some thousands of cattle; and, on any emergency, can 
appear hi the field with several hundi’ed armed slaves. 
While enjoying the hospitahty of this merchant prince in his 
commodious residence, which is outside the rocks, and commands 
a beautiful view of aU the adjacent country, I learned that all my 
despatches, maps, and journal, had gone to the bottom of tlie sea 
in the mail packet, Forerunner.” I felt so glad that my friend 
Lieutenant Bedmg’feld, to whose care I had committed them, 
though in the most imminent danger, had not shared a similar 
fate, that I was at once reconciled to the labour of rewriting. I 
availed myself of the kindness of Colonel Pires, and remained till 
the end of the year, reproducing my lost papers. 
Colonel Pires having another establishment on the banks of 
the Coanza, about six miles distant, I visited it with him about 
once a week for the purpose of recreation. The difference of 
temperature caused by the lower altitude, was seen in the cashew- 
trees, for while, near the rocks, these trees were but coming into 
flower, those at the lower station were ripening their fruit. 
