Chapter IV: Introduction (3)

They have very good Peason [peas], somewhat bigger than ours, but they grow not as ours do; for the pods grow on the roots, underneath the ground, and by their leaves they know when they be ripe.[200] They have another kind of Peason, which they call _Wando_.[201] This is a little tree, and the first year that it is planted it beareth no fruit; but after, it beareth fruit three years, and then it is cut down.[202]

[_Plantains, or Bananas._]

Their plantain trees bear fruit but once, and then are cut down, and out of the root thereof spring three or four young trees.

[_Bees and the Baobab._]

They have great store of honey, which hangeth in the _Elicondy_ trees.[203] They gather it with a hollow piece of wood, or chest, which they hang in the top of the tree, and once a year it is full, by smoke rewarding the laborious creatures with robbery, exile, death.

[Purchas here adds in the margin, “out of Battell’s own reports”:—

This _Alicunde_ or _Elicondi_ tree is very tall and exceeding great, some as big as twelve men can fathom, spreading like an oak. Some of them are hollow, and from the liberal skies receive such plenty of water, that they are hospitable entertainers of thousands in this thirsty region. Once have I known three or four thousand remain at one of these trees, and thence receiving all their watery provision for four and twenty hours, and yet not empty. The negroes climbed up with pegs of hardwood (which that softer easily receiveth, the smoothness not admitting other climbing), and I think that some one tree hold forty tuns of water.

This tree affords not less bountiful hospitality to the back than belly, yielding (as her belly to their bellies, so) her back to their backs; excepting that this is better from the younger trees, whose tenderer backs being more seasonable for discipline, are so soundly beaten (for man’s fault, whence came the first nakedness), whereby one fathom cut from the tree is extended into twenty, and is presently fit for wearing, though not so fine as the _Iuzanda_[204] tree yields. This tree yields excellent cloth from the inner bark thereof by like beating.]

[_Palm Trees._]

Of their palm trees, which they keep with watering and cutting every year, they make velvets, satins, taffetas, damasks, sarsenets, and such like; out of the leaves, cleansed and purged, drawing long threads and even, for that purpose. They draw wine (as it is said) from the palm-tree. There is another kind of palm-tree which beareth a fruit good for the stomach and for the liver, and most admirable.[205]

[_A Crocodile Story._]

One crocodile was so huge and greedy that he devoured an _Alibamba_,[206] that is, a chained company of eight or nine slaves, but the indigestible iron paid him his wages, and murdered the murderer, found afterwards in his belly. I have seen them watch their prey, hauling in gennet, man, or other creature, into the water. But one soldier thus wrapt in shallower water drew his knife, took his taker in the belly, and slew him.]

[THE END.]

ON THE RELIGION AND THE CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLES OF ANGOLA, CONGO AND LOANGO.

The following notes on the religion and customs of the Negroes
of Angola, Congo and Loango, are taken from Book vii, chapters
ix and x, of _Purchas His Pilgrimage, or Relations of the
World and the Religions observed in all Ages and Places
discovered from the Creation unto this Present_. London (H.
Fetherstone), 1617. This account is a compilation. Purchas
quotes, among others, Duarte Lopez, De Barros, Osorio, Marmol,
and Du Jarric. In what follows, we confine ourselves to the
oral information which Purchas received from his friends or
acquaintances, Andrew Battell and Thomas Turner.

CHAP. IX, § I.—ANGOLA.

[_The Slave Trade._]

Master Thomas Turner, one that had lived a long time in Brasil, and had also been at Angola, reported to me[207] that it was supposed eight and twenty thousand slaves (a number almost incredible, yet such as the Portugals told him) were yearly shipped from Angola and Congo, at the Haven of Loanda.[208] He named to me a rich Portugal in Brasil, which had ten thousand of his own, working in his _Ingenios_[209] (of which he had eighteen) and in his other employments. His name was John du Paus, exiled from Portugal, and thus enriched in Brasil.[210] A thousand of his slaves at one time entered into conspiracy with nine thousand other slaves in the country, and barricaded themselves for their best defence against their master, who had much ado to reduce some of them into their former servitude.

[_Fetishes._]

To return to Angola, we may add the report of another of our countrymen, Andrew Battell (my near neighbour, dwelling at Leigh, in Essex) who served under Manuel Silvera Pereira,[211] Governor under the King of Spain, at his city of St. Paul, and with him went far into the country of Angola, their army being eight hundred Portugals and fifty thousand Naturals. This Andrew Battell telleth that they are all heathens in Angola. They had their idols of wood in the midst of their towns, fashioned like a negro, and at the foot thereof was a great heap of elephants’ teeth, containing three or four tuns of them: these were piled in the earth, and upon them were set the skulls of dead men, which they had slain in the wars, in monument of their victory.[212] The idol they call _Mokisso_ [_Mukishi_], and some of them have houses built over them. If any be sick, he accounteth it _Mokisso’s_ hand, and sendeth to appease his angry God, with pouring wine (which they have of the palm tree) at his feet.[213] They have proper names of distinction for their _Mokissos_, as _Kissungo_, _Kalikete_, etc., and use to swear by them, _Kissungo wy_, that is, by _Kissungo_.[214]

[_Trial by Ordeal._]

They have another more solemn oath in trial of controversies: this trial is called _Motamba_,[215] for which purpose they lay a kind of hatchet, which they have, in the fire, and the _Ganga-Mokisso_, or _Mokisso’s_ Priest,[216] taketh the same red-hot, and draweth it near to the skin of the accused party; and if there be two, he causeth their legs to be set near together, and draweth this hot iron without touching between them; if it burns, that party is condemned as guilty, otherwise he is freed.

[_Burial._][217]

For the ceremonies about the dead, they first wash him, then paint him, thirdly apparel him in new clothes, and then bring him to his grave, which is made like a vault, after it is digged a little way down, undermined, and made spacious within; and there set him on a seat of earth, with his beads (which they use on chains and bracelets for ornament), and the most part of his goods, with him in his last home. They kill goats and shed the blood in the graves, and pour wine there in memorial of the dead.

[_Dogs._][218]

... Andrew Battell saith that the Dogs in these countries are all of one sort, prick-eared curs of a mean bigness, which they use also to hunt with, but they open not (for they cannot bark), and therefore they hang clappers made of little boards about their necks. He hath seen a mastiff sold for three slaves....

[_Quizama._]

This kingdom [of Angola] hath many lordships subject thereto, as far as the sea-coast as Cape Negro. Towards a lake called Aquelunda[219] lieth a country called Quizama, the inhabitants whereof being governed after the manner of a commonwealth, have showed themselves friendly to the Portugals, and helped them in their wars against Angola. The houses in Angola are made in fashion like a bee-hive.

[_Women and the Moon._]

The women at the first sight of the new moon, turn up their bums in despite, as offended with their menstruous courses, which they ascribe unto her.

[_Horses’ Tails._][220]

The men sometimes, in a valorous resolution, will devote themselves unto some haughty attempt in the wars; and, taking leave of the king, will vow never to return until they bring him a horse-head, or some other thing, very dangerous in the enterprise, and will either do it or die. Horse-tails are great jewels, and two slaves will be given for one tail, which commonly they bring from the River of Plate, where horses are exceedingly increased and grown wild. They will, by firing the grass round about, hem the horses about with a fiery circle, the fire still straightening and growing nearer till they have advantage enough to kill them. Thus have the European cattle, of horse and kine, so increased in the other world, as they spare not to kill the one for their hides, and the other for their tails.

CHAPTER IX, § II.—OF CONGO.

[_A Crocodile Story._][221]

... Andrew Battell told me of a huge crocodile which was reported to have eaten a whole _Alibamba_, that is, a company of eight or nine slaves chained together, and at last paid for his greediness: the chain holding him slave, as before it had the negroes, and by his undigestible nature devouring the devourer; remaining in the belly of him after he was found, in testimony of this victory. He hath seen them watch and take their prey, haling a gennet, man, or other creature into the water. A soldier thus drawn in by a crocodile, in shallower waters, with his knife wounded him in the belly, and slew him.