In nearly all cases a man gives a price for the wife, and in cases of mulattoes, as much as 60 Pounds is often given to the parents of the bride.

This is one of the evils the bishop was trying to remedy.
In cases of death the body is kept several days, and there is a grand concourse of both sexes, with beating of drums, dances, and debauchery, kept up with feasting, etc., according to the means of the relatives.
The great ambition of many of the blacks of Angola is to give their friends an expensive funeral.

Often, when one is asked to sell a pig, he replies, "I am keeping it in case of the death of any of my friends." A pig is usually slaughtered and eaten on the last day of the ceremonies, and its head thrown into the nearest stream or river.

A native will sometimes appear intoxicated on these occasions, and, if blamed for his intemperance, will reply, "Why! my mother is dead!" as if he thought it a sufficient justification.

The expenses of funerals are so heavy that often years elapse before they can defray them.
These people are said to be very litigious and obstinate: constant disputes are taking place respecting their lands.