[The Royal Princes.]
The town of Longo [Loango] standeth in the midst of four Lordships, 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 passeth by them kneel down and clap their hands, which is the courtesy of the country.
These Lordships 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 compassed round about with elephants’ teeth pitched in the ground, as it were a Pale, and it is ten roods in compass.