The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell Part 5

[_A Royal Audience._]

The King hath ten great houses, and is never certain to be found but in the afternoon, when he cometh to sit. And then he keepeth always [to]

one house. The house is very long, and at twelve of the clock it is full of n.o.blemen. They sit upon carpets upon the ground. The house is always full of people till midnight.

The last king, Gembe [Njimbe],[140] never used to speak in the day, but always in the night. But this king speaketh in the day: howbeit he spendeth most of the day with his wives. And when the king cometh in he goeth to the upper end of the house, where he hath his seat, as it were a throne. And when the king is set, they clap their hands and salute him, saying in their language: _Byani Pemba_, _Ampola_, _Moneya_, _Quesinge_.[141]

[_The King's Wives._][142]

On the south side of the king's houses he hath a circuit [compound] or village, where his wives dwell, and in this circuit no man may come on pain of death. He hath in this place one hundred and fifty wives and more. And if any man be taken within this circuit, if he be with a woman, or do but speak to her, they be both brought into the market-place and their heads be cut off, and their bodies quartered, and lie one day in the street. The last king Gymbe [Njimbi], had four hundred children by his women.

[_The King Drinks!_]

When the king drinketh he hath a cup of wine brought, and he that bringeth it hath a bell in his hand, and as soon as he hath delivered the cup to the king, he turneth his face from the king and ringeth the bell; and then all that be there fall down upon their faces, and rise not till the king have drunk. And this is very dangerous for any stranger that knoweth not the fas.h.i.+ons, for if any seeth the king drink he is presently killed, whatsoever he be. There was a boy of twelve years, which was the king's son. This boy chanced to come unadvisedly when his father was in drinking. Presently the king commandeth he should be well apparelled and victuals prepared. So the youth did eat and drink. Afterward the king commandeth that he should be cut in quarters and carried about the city, with proclamation that he saw the king drink.[143]

[_The King at Dinner._][144]

Likewise for his diet, when it is dinner-time, there is a house of purpose, where he always eateth, and there his diet is set upon a _bensa_,[145] like a table. Then he goeth in, and hath the door shut. So when he hath eaten, then he knocketh and cometh out. So that none see the king eat nor drink. For it is their belief, that if he be seen eating or drinking, he shall presently die. And this is an order with all kings that now are, or shall succeed, unless they abolish this cruel custom.

[_The King as a Rain-maker._]

The king is so honoured as though he were a G.o.d among them, and is called _Sambe_ and _Pongo,_[146] that is G.o.d. And they believe that he can give them rain when he listeth. So once a year, when it is time to rain, that is in December, the people come to beg rain and bring their gifts to the king, for none come empty.[147] Then he appointeth the day, and all the lords far and near come to the feast with all their troops, as they go in the wars. And when all the troops of men be before the king, the greatest Lord cometh forthwith his bows and arrows, and sheweth his skill with his weapon; and then he hath a merry conceit or jest that he speaketh before the king, and kneeleth at his feet; and then the king thanketh him for his love; and in like manner they do all.

The king sitteth abroad in a great place, and hath a carpet spread upon the ground, which is some fifteen fathoms about, of fine _ensacks_,[148]

which are wrought like velvet, and upon the carpet his seat, which is a fathom from the ground. Then he commanded his _Dembes_ [Ndamba][149] to strike up, which are drums, so great, that they cannot carry them, and others that are very great. He hath also eight _Pongos_,[150] which are his waits, made of the greatest elephants' teeth, and are hollowed and sc.r.a.ped light, which play also. And with the drums and waits they make an h.e.l.lish noise. After they have sported and shewed the king pleasure, he ariseth and standeth upon his throne, and taketh a bow and arrows in his hand, and shooteth to the sky; and that day there is great rejoicing, because sometimes they have rain. I was once there when the king gave rain, and it chanced that day to rain mightily, which made the people have a great belief in their folly.[151]

[_Albinos._]

Here are sometimes born in this country white children, which is very rare among them, for their parents are negroes. And when any of them are born, they are presented unto the king and are called _Dondos_ [_Ndundu_].[152] These are as white as any white man. These are the king's witches, and are brought up in witchcraft, and always wait on the king. There is no man that dare meddle with these _Dondos_. If they go to the market they may take what they list, for all men stand in awe of them. The King of Longo had four of them.

[_The Nkis.h.i.+, or Fetishes._]

The king also is a witch, and believeth in two idols which are in Longo.

The one is called _Mokisso a Longo_, the other is called _Chec.o.c.ke_.[153] This last is a little black image, and standeth in a little house at a village called Kinga, which standeth in the landing-place of Longo. This house of _Chec.o.c.ke_ standeth in the highway, and they that go by clap their hands, which is the courtesy of the country. Those that be craftsmen, as fishermen, hunters, and witches, do offer to this idol, that they may have good luck. This _Chec.o.c.ke_ doth sometimes in the night come and haunt some of his best beloved: sometimes a man, sometimes a boy or a woman. And then they be frantic for the s.p.a.ce of three hours; and whatsoever the frantic person speaketh, that is the will of _Chec.o.c.ke_. And they make a great feast and dancing at his house.[154]

There is another _Mokisso_ which is also in Kinga, and it is called _Gomberi_. It is the name of a woman, and is in a house where an old witch dwelleth, and she is called _Ganga Gomberi_, which is, the Priest of _Gomberi_. Here once a year is a feast made, and _Ganga Gomberi_ speaketh under the ground.[155] And this is a common thing every year. I have asked the negroes what it was, and they told me that it was a strong _Mokisso_ that is come to abide with _Chec.o.c.ke_.

[_Children are born White._]

The children in this country are born white, and change their colour in two days to a perfect black. As, for example, the Portugals, which dwell in the kingdom of Congo, have sometimes children by the negro women, and many times the fathers are deceived, thinking when the child is born it is theirs, and within two days it proveth the son or daughter of a negro; which the Portugals do greatly grieve at, for they rejoice when they have a mulato child, though it be a b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

[_The Royal Princes._]

The town of Longo [Loango] standeth in the midst of four Lords.h.i.+ps, and is governed by four Princes, which are the King's sisters' sons, for the King's sons can never be kings. The first is Mani Cabango,[156] the second Mani Salag, the third Mani Bock, the fourth Mani Cay. This Mani Cay is next to be king, and hath his train and court as a Prince. And when the King dieth he cometh presently into the seat of the King. Then, Mani Bock cometh to Cay, Mani Salag cometh to Bock, and Mani Cabango cometh to Salag. And then they provide another to go to Cabango, so there be four Princes that wait on the King when their turns come.

[_The Kings Mother._]

The mother of these Princes is called Mani Lombo,[157] and she is the highest and chief woman in all the land. She maketh choice of her husband, and when she is weary of him she putteth him away, and taketh another. Her children are greatly honoured, and whosoever pa.s.seth by them kneel down and clap their hands, which is the courtesy of the country.

These Lords.h.i.+ps are champaign grounds, and full of corn and fruit.

[_Palm Cloth._][158]

The men in this kingdom make good store of palm-cloth of sundry sorts, very fine and curious. They are never idle: for they make fine caps of needlework as they go in the streets.

[_The Royal Tombs._]

There is a place two leagues from the town of Longo, called Longeri,[159] where all their kings be buried, and it is compa.s.sed round about with elephants' teeth pitched in the ground, as it were a Pale, and it is ten roods in compa.s.s.

[_Europeans Committed to the Sea._]

These people will suffer no white man to be buried in their land,[160]

and if any stranger or Portugal come thither to trade, and chance to die, he is carried in a boat two miles from the sh.o.r.e, and cast into the sea. There was once a Portugal gentleman, that came to trade with them, and had his house on sh.o.r.e. This gentleman died, and was buried some four months. That year it did not rain so soon as it was wont, which beginneth about December, so that they lacked rain for some two months.

Then their _mokisso_ told them that the Christian, which was buried, must be taken out of the earth, and cast into the sea; and within three days it rained, which made them have a great belief in the devil.

-- VI.

_Of the Provinces of Bongo, Calongo, Mayombe, Manikesocke, Motimbas: of the ape-monster Pongo: their Hunting, Idolatries, and divers other observations._

[_Bongo._]

To the eastward of Longeri is the Province of Bongo, and it bordereth on Moc.o.c.ke, [of which] the great Angeca[161] is king. In this place is great store of iron, and palm-cloth, and elephants' teeth, and great store of corn.

[_Cango._]

To the north-east is the great province of Cango,[162] and it is fourteen days journey from the town of Longo. This place is full of mountains and rocky ground, and full of woods, and hath great store of copper. The elephants in this place do excel, and there are so many that the people of Longo hath great store of elephants' teeth, and bring them to the port of Longo.

[_Calongo._]

To the northwards of Longo, three leagues, is the river Quelle:[163] and on the north side is the province of Calongo [Chilunga]. This country is always tilled, and full of corn, and is all plain and champaign ground, and hath great store of honey. Here are two little villages that show at sea like two hummocks,[164] which are the marks to show the port of Longo; and fifteen miles northward is the river Nombo,[165] but it hath no depth for any bark to go in. This province, towards the east, bordereth upon Bongo; and towards the north upon Mayombe, which is nineteen leagues from Longo along the coast.