e gods!" and set off at the top of his speed. The
young men caught him before he had gone a mile, and bound him. By gentle
treatment and watching for a few days he recovered. I have observed
several instances of this kind in the country, but very few cases of
idiocy, and I believe that continued insanity is rare.

Chapter 21.

Visit a deserted Convent--Favorable Report of Jesuits and their Teaching
--Gradations of native Society--Punishment of Thieves--Palm-toddy; its
baneful Effects--Freemasons--Marriages and Funerals--Litigation--Mr.
Canto's Illness--Bad Behavior of his Slaves--An Entertainment--Ideas
on Free Labor--Loss of American Cotton-seed--Abundance of Cotton in
the country--Sickness of Sekeletu's Horse--Eclipse of the Sun--Insects
which distill Water--Experiments with them--Proceed to Ambaca--Sickly
Season--Office of Commandant--Punishment of official Delinquents--
Present from Mr. Schut of Loanda--Visit Pungo Andongo--Its good
Pasturage, Grain, Fruit, etc.--The Fort and columnar Rocks--The
Queen of Jinga--Salubrity of Pungo Andongo--Price of a Slave--A
Merchant-prince--His Hospitality--Hear of the Loss of my Papers
in "Forerunner"--Narrow Escape from an Alligator--Ancient
Burial-places--Neglect of Agriculture in Angola--Manioc the staple
Product--Its Cheapness--Sickness--Friendly Visit from a colored
Priest--The Prince of Congo--No Priests in the Interior of Angola.

While waiting for the recovery of my men, I visited, in company with my
friend Mr. Canto, the deserted convent of St. Hilarion, at Bango, a few
miles northwest of Golungo Alto. It is situated in a magnificent valley,
containing a population numbering 4000 hearths. This is the abode of
the Sova, or Chief Bango, who still holds a place of authority under the
Portuguese. The garden of the convent, the church, and dormitories of
the brethren are still kept in a good state of repair. I looked at the
furniture, couches, and large chests for holding the provisions of the
brotherhood with interest, and would fain have learned something of the
former occupants; but all the books and sacred vessels had lately been
removed to Loanda, and even the graves of the good men stand without any
record: their resting-places are, however, carefully tended. All speak
well of the Jesuits and other missionaries, as the Capuchins, etc., for
having attended diligently to the instruction of the children. They were
supposed to have a tendency to take the part of