Narrative of an expedition to the Zambesi and its tributaries; and of the discovery of the lakes Shirwa and Nyassa. 1858-1864 (1893) (14793169003)

Identifier: narrativeofexped01livi (find matches)
Title: Narrative of an expedition to the Zambesi and its tributaries; and of the discovery of the lakes Shirwa and Nyassa. 1858-1864
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Livingstone, David, 1813-1873 Livingstone, Charles, 1821-1873, (from old catalog) joint author
Subjects:
Publisher: New York, Harper & brothers
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress



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mous mistake. Theirgovernment places them in a false position by cutting themoff from the rest of the world; and of this they always speakwith a bitterness which, were it heard, might alter the toneof the statesmen of Lisbon. But here there is no press, nobooksellers shops, and scarcely a schoolmaster. Had webeen born in similar untoward circumstances — we trembleto think of it! The weddings are celebrated with as much jollity as wed-dings are any where. We witnessed one in the house of ourfriend the Padre. It being the marriage of his god-daugh-ter, he kindly invited us to be partakers in his joy; and wethere became acquainted with old Donna Eugenia, who wasa married wife and had children, when the slaves came fromCassange, before any of us were born. The whole merry-making was marked by good taste and propriety. Another marriage brought out a feature in the CatholicChurch akin, we believe, to a custom in Scotland, which com-mended itself to us as right. Our friend Captain Terrazao
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Chap. VI. COAL AT TETTE. 151 was about to be married to a young lady of no less illus-trious a name than Victoria Alexandrina, the daughter ofone of the richest merchants of Tette. But her mother hadbeen living only in a state of concubinage; and, to legitima-tize the children, the marriage of the parents was first cele-brated, and then Terrazao received his bride, and anothergentleman her sister on the same day. With our laws itseems to be a pity that those who have the misfortune to beborn out of wedlock should be condemned, for no sin of theirown, to bear the stain through life. In the wedding processions, the brides and bridegroomsare carried in hammocks slung to poles, called machillas.The female slaves, dressed in all their finery, rejoice in thehappiness of their masters and mistresses. The males carrythe machillas, or show their gladness by discharging theirmuskets. The friends of the young couple form part of theprocession behind the machillas, dressed usually in blackdress-c