The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell, of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining RegionsBattell, Andrew
History
The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell, of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining Regions
Battell, Andrew
Angola -- Discovery and exploration; Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Discovery and exploration
In 1615, Manuel Cerveira Pereira[452] returned to the scene of his
former labours, with special instructions to take possession of
Benguella, which for a considerable time past had been visited by
trading vessels. But before he started upon this enterprise, he ordered
his old comrade, João (or Paio?) de Araujo e Azevedo, to deal with
Kakulu Kabasa,[453] Mbumba (Bumba) a ndala, Kilomba kia tubia, and other
revolted chiefs in Angola, whilst he himself penetrated into the country
of the Kakulu Kahenda,[454] who had given offence by assisting fugitive
slaves and interfering with traders.
Having entrusted Antonio Gonçalves Pitta with the government of S.
Paulo, he left that place for the South, on April 11th, 1617, with four
vessels, a patacho, and one hundred soldiers.[455] Finding the site of
the old fort near the Terra das duas Puntas unsuitable, he continued his
voyage along the coast, until he came in sight of a “sombreiro,”
overlooking the Bahia das Vaccas;[456] and there he built the fort of S.
Filippe de Benguella, which in course of time developed into a city of
some importance. The sobas of Ndombe, of whose territory he had
possessed himself, naturally objected to the presence of these uninvited
strangers, but they were compelled to submit after five defeats. The
Jaga on the river Murombo likewise gave in, after three months’
fighting, but soon afterwards broke the peace, and was executed. The
chief Kalunga, at the mouth of the Koporolo (Kuporol), and the
cattle-keeping Mukimba in the neighbouring hills, also submitted. It
scarcely admits of doubt that Pereira, in the course of his many
military excursions, discovered copper, sulphur and salt,[457] but he
was to benefit little by these discoveries. His harsh conduct and greed
had estranged his people. Headed by a priest and by their officers, they
mutinied, put their leader on board a patacho, and shipped him off to S.
Paulo, where no notice was taken of his presence, the Governor being
absent at that time, because of a native war (1618).[458]
Pereira once more returned to Madrid, and having explained matters to
the satisfaction of the authorities, he was sent back, and again reached
S. Felippe de Benguella on August 8th, 1620. He sailed north to Sumba
mbela’s country, at the mouth of the river Kuvu. A couple of days inland
he discovered more copper, three quintals of which he took to S. Paulo.
He died in the midst of his labours. The _Catalogo_ credits him with
having gone inland as far as Kakonda.[459]
THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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