Freely translated, it would mean “My companion, the white face, has risen from underground, and will not live long.” This is a curious greeting, but it fairly represents native ideas: for the white man, as long as he keeps to his ship (supposed to rise from the bottom of the ocean), is believed to live long; whilst, once he comes to stay ashore, he is condemned to an early death. [142] In a marginal note, Purchas says that the King’s wives are called _Macomes_. Such a title is known neither to Mr. Dennett nor to Mr. Phillips. Macome is probably a misprint for Maconda, the title borne, according to Dapper, p. 522, by the king’s “mother.” _Nkondi_, according to Bentley, is a title of nobility. [143] Mr. Dennett informs me that, still at the present day, when the King (Maloango) or rather _Nganga nvumbu_, drinks in state, he covers his head with a cloth, so that the public may not see him drink. On ordinary occasions, however, this custom is no longer observed. [144] The heads of all families eat alone; that is, they eat first, and their wives and children afterwards. Maloango still observes the same custom, with his _ma sa vi_, or house-steward, as the sole attendant (Dennett). [145] Bensa may be a corruption of the Portuguese _banca_, a table. Mr. Dennett does not know the word. [146] Not Sambe and Pongo, but Nzambi-ampungu! _Nzambi_ is the name by which God is known; _Nzambi-ampungu_ means the Most High (Supreme) God (Bentley, _Life on the Congo_, 1887, p. 62). [147] The rains begin in October and last till April, being heaviest from November to March. They are very irregular. Thus, in February 1874, 2.2 ins. fell at Chinchosho; in the same month, 1875,12.0 ins.; but in 1876 only 0.2 ins. [148] _Ensaka_, according to D. Lopez (Pigafetta), a stuff resembling velvet. [149] The _Ndamba_ is no drum, as understood by Purchas, but a musical instrument made out of a piece of palm stem, about 4 or 5 ft. long. This is split down one side, the soft centre is then scooped out, and the edges of the split cut into notches. By rubbing these notches energetically with a stick, a loud rasping noise is produced (Monteiro, _Angola_, vol. ii, p. 139: Cordeiro da Matta, _Diccionario_, p. 118). [150] An ivory trumpet (see note, p. 15). [151] Battell seems to be mistaken. Mr. Dennett informs me that Maloango as _Ngangu nvumbu_ (see note 44) collects the offerings of his people, and sends them with a petition for rain to the great rain-doctor, _Nganga m Bunzi_, in Ngoyo. He has never heard that Maloango had usurped the functions of the great rain-doctor by shooting an arrow to the sky. Abbé Proyart (_Hist. de Loango_, c. 13), says that the Maloango being desirous of not committing himself, orders one of his ministers to make rain.