456 
FUNEEAL OBSEQUIES. 
Chap. XXIII. 
astray. The treatment of the slaves witnessed by my men, cer¬ 
tainly did not raise slaveholders in their estimation. Their usual 
exclamation was, Gla ba na pelu ” (They have no heart) ; and 
they added, mth reference to the slaves, Why do they let 
them ?” as if they thought that the slaves had the natural right 
to rid the world of such heartless creatures, and ought to do it. 
The uneasiness of the trader was continually showing itself, and, 
upon the whole, lie had reason to be on the alert both day and 
night. The carriers perpetually stole the goods intrusted to then 
care, and he could not openly accuse them, lest they should 
plunder him of all, and leave liim quite in the Imrch. He could 
only hope to manage them after getting all tlie remaining goods 
safely into a house in Cabango; he might then deduct something 
from then pay, for what they had purloined on the way. 
Cabango (lat. 9° 31' S., long. 20° 31' or 32' E.) is the dweUing- 
place of Muanzanza, one of Matiamvo’s subordinate chiefs. His 
village consists of about two hunch*ed huts, and ten or twelve 
square houses, constructed of poles with grass interwoven. The 
latter are occupied by half-caste Portuguese- from Ambaca, agents 
for the Cassange traders. The cold m the mornings was now 
severe to the feelings, the thermometer ranging from 58° to 60°, 
thougli, when protected, sometimes standing as high as 64° at 
sis A.M. When the sun is well up, the thermometer in the shade 
rises to 80°, and in the eveihngs it is about 78°. 
A person having died in tliis village, we could transact no 
business with the chief, until the funeral obsequies were finished. 
These occupy about form days, dmmg wliich tliere is a constant 
succession of dancing, waiting, and feasting. Guns are fired by 
day, and drums beaten by night, and aU the relatives, dressed m 
fantastic caps, keep up the ceremonies with spirit proportionate 
to the amount of beer and beef expended. When there is a large 
expenditure, the remark is often made afterwards, “ What a fine 
funeral that was! ” A figure, consisting cliiefly of feathers and 
beads, is paraded on these occasions, and seems to be regarded as 
an idol. 
Having met with an accident to one of my eyes, by a blow 
from a branch in passing through a forest, I remained some days 
here, endeavoiuing, though with much pain, to draw a sketch of 
the country thus far, to be sent back to Mr. Gabriel at Loanda. 
