The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell Part 3

-- III.

_Discovery of the Gagas: their wars, man-eating; over-running countries. His trade with them, betraying, escape to them, and living with them; with many strange adventures. And also the rites and manner of life observed by the Iagges or Gagas, which no Christian could ever know well but this author._[64]

[_A Second Voyage to Benguella._]

In our second voyage, turning up along the coast, we came to the Morro, or cliff of Benguelle,[65] which standeth in twelve degrees of southerly lat.i.tude. Here we saw a mighty camp on the south side of the river Cova.[66] And being desirous to know what they were, we went on sh.o.r.e with our boat; and presently there came a troop of five hundred men to the waterside. We asked them who they were. Then they told us that they were the Gagas, or Gindes, that came from Sierra de lion [Serra Leoa],[67] and pa.s.sed through the city of Congo, and so travelled to the eastward of the great city of Angola, which is called Dongo.[68] The great Gaga, which is their general, came down to the waterside to see us, for he had never seen white men before. He asked wherefore we came.

We told him that we came to trade upon the coast. Then he bade us welcome, and called us on sh.o.r.e with our commodities. We laded our s.h.i.+p with slaves in seven days, and bought them so cheap that many did not cost one real, which were worth in the city [of Loanda] twelve milreis.

[In a marginal note, Purchas adds:-

"He, in discourse with me, called them Iagges, and their chief the great Iagge. I think he writ them Gagas for Giagas, by false spelling."]

[_Among the Jagas._]

Being ready to depart, the great Giaga staid us, and desired our boat to pa.s.s his men over the river Cova, for he determined to overrun the realm of Benguele, which was on the north side of the river Cova. So we went with him to his camp, which was very orderly, entrenched with piles of wood; we had houses provided for us that night, and many burthens [loads] of palm-wine, cows, goats and flour.

In the morning, before day, the general did strike his _gongo_,[69]

which is an instrument of war that soundeth like a bell, and presently made an oration with a loud voice, that all the camp might hear, that he would destroy the Benguelas, with such courageous and vehement speeches as were not to be looked for among the heathen people. And presently they were all in arms, and marched to the river side, where he had provided _Gingados_.[70] And being ready with our boat and _Gingados_, the general was fain to beat them back because of the credit who should be first. We carried over eighty men at once, and with our muskets we beat the enemy off, and landed, but many of them were slain. By twelve of the clock all the Gagas were over.

Then the general commanded all his drums, _tavales_,[71] _petes_, _pongos_, and all his instruments of warlike music to strike up, and gave the onset, which was a b.l.o.o.d.y day for the Benguelas. These Benguelas presently broke, and turned their backs, and a very great number of them were slain, and were taken captives, man, woman and child. The prince, Hombiangymbe, was slain, which was ruler of this country, and more than one hundred of his chief lords, and their heads presented and thrown at the feet of the great Gaga. The men, women and children that were brought in captive alive, and the dead corpses that were brought to be eaten, were strange to behold. For these Gagas are the greatest cannibals and man-eaters that be in the world, for they feed chiefly upon man's flesh [notwithstanding of their] having all the cattle of that country.

They settled themselves in this country and took the spoil of it. We had great trade with these Gagas, five months, and gained greatly by them.

These Gagas were not contented to stay in this place of Benguela, although they lacked almost nothing. For they had great store of cattle and wheat, and many other commodities; but they lacked wine, for in these parts there are no palm-trees.

After the five months were expired they marched toward the province of Bambala,[72] to a great lord that is called Calicansamba, whose country is five days up into the land. In these five months' s.p.a.ce we made three voyages to the city of San Paul, and coming the fourth time we found them not.

[_March into the Interior._]

Being loth to return without trade, we determined to go up into the land after them. So we went fifty on sh.o.r.e, and left our s.h.i.+p riding in the Bay of Benguela to stay for us. And marching two days up into the country we came to a great lord which is called Mofarigosat; and coming to his first town we found it burnt to the ground, for the Gagas had pa.s.sed and taken the spoil. To this lord we sent a negro which we had bought of the Gagas, and [who] lived with us, and bid him say that he was one of the great Gaga's men, and that he was left to carry us to the camp. This lord bade us welcome for fear of the great Gaga, but he delayed the time, and would not let us pa.s.s till the Gaga was gone out of his country. This lord Mofarigosat, seeing that the Gagas were clear of him, began to palter with us, and would not let us go out of his land till we had gone to the wars with him, for he thought himself a mighty man having us with him. For in this place they never saw [a] white man before, nor guns. So we were forced to go with him, and destroyed all his enemies, and returned to his town again. Then we desired him that he would let us depart; but he denied us, without we would promise him to come again, and leave a white man with him in p.a.w.n.

[_Left as an Hostage._]

The Portugals and Mulatos being desirous to get away from this place, determined to draw lots who should stay; but many of them would not agree to it. At last they consented together that it were fitter to leave me, because I was an Englishman, than any of themselves. Here I was fain to stay perforce. So they left me a musket, powder and shot, promising this lord, Mofarigosat, that within two months they would come again and bring a hundred men to help him in his wars, and to trade with him. But all was to s.h.i.+ft themselves away, for they feared that he would have taken us all captives. Here I remained with this lord till the two months were expired, and was hardly used, because the Portugals came not according to promise.

The chief men of this town would have put me to death, and stripped me naked, and were ready to cut off mine head. But the Lord of the town commanded them to stay longer, thinking that the Portugals would come.

And after that I was let loose again, I went from one town to another, s.h.i.+fting for myself within the liberties of the lord. And being in fear of my life among them I ran away, purposing to go to the camp of the Gagas.

[_He joins the Jagas._]

And having travelled all that night, the next day I came to a great town which was called Cas.h.i.+l, which stood in a mighty overgrown thicket. Here I was carried into the town, to the lord Cas.h.i.+l. And all the town, great and small, came to wonder at me, for in this place there was never any white man seen. Here were some of the great Gaga's men, which I was glad to see, and went with these Gagas to Calicansamba, where the camp was.

This town of the lord Cas.h.i.+l is very great and is so overgrown with _Olicondie_ [_baobab_][73] trees, cedars,[74] and palms, that the streets are darkened with them. In the middle of the town there is an image, which is as big as a man, and standeth twelve feet high; and at the foot of the image there is a circle of elephants' teeth, pitched into the ground. Upon these teeth stand great store of dead men's skulls, which are [were] killed in the wars, and offered to this image.

They used to pour palm oil at his feet, and kill goats, and pour their blood at his feet. This image is called Quesango,[75] and the people have great belief in him, and swear by him; and do believe when they are sick that Quesango is offended with them. In many places of this town were little images, and over them great store of elephants' teeth piled.[76]

The streets of this town were paled with palm-canes, very orderly.

Their houses were round like a hive, and, within, hanged with fine mats very curiously wrought. On the south-east end of the town was a mokiso [_mukis.h.i.+_] which had more than three tons of elephants' teeth piled over him.

From this town of Cas.h.i.+l I travelled up into the country with the Gagas[77] two days, and came to Calicansamba, where the great Gaga had his camp, and was welcome to him. Among the cannibal people I determined to live, hoping in G.o.d that they would travel so far to the westward that we should see the sea again; and so I might escape by some s.h.i.+p.

These Gagas remained four months in this place, with great abundance and plenty of cattle, corn, wine, and oil, and great triumphing, drinking, dancing, and banquetting, with man's flesh, which was a heavy spectacle to behold.

At the end of four months they marched towards the _Serras_, or mountains of Cas.h.i.+ndcabar, which are mighty high, and have great copper mines, and they took the spoil all the way as they went. From thence they went to the river Longa,[78] and pa.s.sed it, and settled themselves in the town of Calango,[79] and remained there five or six months. Then we arose and entered into the province of Tondo,[80] and came to the river Gonsa [Coanza],[81] and marched on the south side of the river to a lord that was called Makellacolonge, near to the great city of Dongo.

Here we pa.s.sed over mighty high mountains, and found it very cold.

Having spent sixteen months among these cannibals, they marched to the westward again, and came along the river Gonsa, or Gunza, to a lord that is called s.h.i.+llambansa,[82] uncle to the King of Angola. We burnt his chief town, which was after their fas.h.i.+on very sumptuously builded. This place is very pleasant and fruitful. Here we found great store of wild peac.o.c.ks,[83] flying up and down the trees, in as great abundance as other birds. The old lord s.h.i.+llambansa was buried in the middle of the town, and had a hundred tame peac.o.c.ks kept upon his grave, which peac.o.c.ks he gave to his _Mokeso_, and they were called _Angello Mokeso_,[84] that is, the Devil's or Idol's Birds, and were accounted as holy things. He had great store of copper, cloth, and many other things laid upon his grave, which is the order of that country.[85]

From this place we marched to the westward, along the river Coanza, and came right against the _Serras_ or mountains of Cambambe, or Serras de Prata.[86] Here is the great fall of water, that falleth right down, and maketh a mighty noise that is heard thirty miles. We entered into the province of Casama,[87] and came to one of the greatest Lords, which was called Langere. He obeyed the great Gaga, and carried us to a Lord called Casoch,[88] which was a great warrior, for he had some seven years before overthrown the Portugals camp, and killed eight hundred Portugals and forty-thousand negroes, that were on the Portugals side.

This Lord did stoutly withstand the Gagas, and had the first day a mighty battle, but had not the victory that day. So we made a sconce of trees after their fas.h.i.+on, and remained four months in the wars with them. I was so highly esteemed with the great Gaga, because I killed many negroes with my musket, that I had anything that I desired of him.

He would also, when they went out to the wars, give charge to his men over me. By this means I have been often carried away in their arms, and saved my life. Here we were within three days' journey of Ma.s.sangano, before mentioned, where the Portugals have a fort: and I sought means, and got to the Portugals again with merchant negroes that came to the camp to buy slaves.

[_Military Organisation of the Jagas._]

There were in the camp of the Gagas twelve captains. The first, called Imbe Calandola,[89] their general, a man of great courage. He warreth all by enchantment, and taketh the Devil's counsel in all his exploits.

He is always making of sacrifices[90] to the Devil, and doth know many times what shall happen unto him. He believeth that he shall never die but in the wars. There is no image among them, but he useth certain ceremonies. He hath straight laws to his soldiers: for, those that are faint-hearted, and turn their backs to the enemy, are presently condemned and killed for cowards, and their bodies eaten. He useth every night to make a warlike oration upon an high scaffold, which doth encourage his people.

It is the order of these people, wheresoever they pitch their camp, although they stay but one night in a place, to build their fort, with such wood or trees as the place yieldeth: so that the one part of them cutteth down trees and boughs, and the other part carrieth them, and buildeth a round circle with twelve gates.[91] So that every captain keepeth his gate. In the middle of the fort is the general's house, intrenched round about, and he hath many porters to keep the door. They build their houses very close together, and have their bows, arrows, and darts standing without their doors; and when they give alarm, they are suddenly all out of the fort. Every company at their doors [gates?] keep very good watch in the night, playing upon their drums and _tavales_.[92]

[_A River of Gold._]

These Gagas told us of a river that is to the southward of the Bay of Vaccas,[93] that hath great store of gold: and that they gathered up great store of grains of gold upon the sand, which the fresh water driveth down in the time of rain. We found some of this gold in the handles of their hatchets, which they use to engrave with copper; and they called it copper also, and do not esteem it.

[_Palm Wine._]

These Gagas delight in no country, but where there is great store of Palmares, or groves of palms. For they delight greatly in the wine and in the fruit of the palm, which serveth to eat and to make oil. And they draw their wine contrary to the Imbondos.[94] These palm-trees are six or seven fathoms high, and have no leaves but in the top: and they have a device to go up to the top of the tree, and lay no hands on it, and they draw the wine in the top of the tree in a bottle.

But these Gagas cut the palm-trees down by the root, which lie ten days before they will give wine. And then they make a square hole in the top and heart of the tree, and take out of the hole every morning a quart, and at night a quart So that every tree giveth two quarts of wine a day for the s.p.a.ce of six and twenty days, and then it drieth up.

[_Jaga Raids._]

When they settle themselves in any country, they cut down as many palms as will serve them wine for a month: and then as many more, so that in a little time they spoil the country. They stay no longer in a place than it will afford them maintenance. And then in harvest-time they arise, and settle themselves in the fruitfullest place they can find; and do reap their enemy's corn, and take their cattle. For they will not sow, nor plant, nor bring up any cattle, more than they take by wars.[95]

When they come into any country that is strong, which they cannot the first day conquer, then their General buildeth his fort, and remaineth sometimes a month or two quiet. For he saith, it is as great wars to the inhabitants to see him settled in their country, as though he fought with them every day. So that many times the inhabitants come and a.s.sault him at his fort: and these Gagas defend themselves and flesh[96] them on for the s.p.a.ce of two or three days. And when their General mindeth to give the onset, he will, in the night, put out some one thousand men: which do ambush themselves about a mile from their fort. Then in the morning the great Gaga goeth with all his strength out of the fort, as though he would take their town. The inhabitants coming near the fort to defend their country, being between them, the Gagas give the watchword with their drums, and then the ambushed men rise, so that very few escape. And that day their General overunneth the country.

[_Dress and Ornaments._]

The great Gaga Calando[97] hath his hair very long, embroidered with many knots of Banba[98] sh.e.l.ls, which are very rich among them, and about his neck a collar of _masoes_,[99] which are also sh.e.l.ls, that are found upon that coast, and are sold among them for the worth of twenty s.h.i.+llings a sh.e.l.l: and about his middle he weareth _landes_, which are beads made of the ostrich eggs.[100] He weareth a palm-cloth about his middle, as fine as silk. His body is carved and cut with sundry works, and every day anointed with the fat of men.[101] He weareth a piece of copper cross his nose[102], two inches long, and in his ears also. His body is always painted red and white. He hath twenty or thirty wives, which follow him when he goeth abroad; and one of them carrieth his bows and arrows; and four of them carry his cups of drink after him. And when he drinketh they all kneel down, and clap their hands and sing.[103]

Their women wear their hair with high _trompes_ full of bamba [_mbamba_]