CHAPTER IH. 
THE FESTIVAL-A TRIP TO CALUMBO—-PORTUGUESE 
HOSPITALITY. 
Y first step after reaching S. Paolo de 
Loanda was to call upon Mr. Commis¬ 
sioner Vredenburg, who had lately 
taken up the undesirable appointment, 
and who, moreover, had brought a pretty French 
wife from Para. I had warned him that he was 
risking her life and that of her child ; he bravely 
made the attempt and nearly lost them both. I 
have reason to be grateful to him and to Mr. 
Vice-consul E. H. Hewett for hospitality during 
my stay at the Angolan capital. There is a place 
called an hotel, but it is in the Seven Dials of the 
African city, and—nothing more need be said. 
Fortunately for me, as for herself, Loanda had 
got rid of Mr. Vredenburgs predecessor, who soon 
followed the lamented Richard Brand, first British 
Consul, appointed in 1844. The “real whole¬ 
hearted Englishman ” was after that modern type, 
