Rita and the girls would start preparing dinner, mainly meat, soup and bread. When they run out of bread they would look for a large termite nest-monte de salale-, dig the inside and made a sort of woven to bake the bread.
During the journey Antonio and his brother always kept an eye for wild game to supply them with meat. Without refrigerators to preserve the meat or salt in abundance, meat had to be eaten fresh or dried. The most appreciated animals were the cabras do mato (dik-dik), palanca (sable antelope), gunga (eland) or the nunce (water buck).
As the night set in, fires were lit around the camp to protect people and oxen against lions, leopards and the more annoying than dangerous, the hyenas which would fill the African night with their frightening laughter.
African nights are unique. Unlike the Australian bush, the African jungle seems to come alive at night. A cacophony of screams would fill the air and silence is a sign of bad things to come.
For the person accustomed to the sounds of Africa, it is far better to sit by the fire at night picturing all the creatures that make the noise, than going to the movies. It makes you feel part of nature and develops a special bond amongst people who share the fire with you.
One can imagine the Costa's, siting around the fire. Antonio and Albino planning the next day's journey and discussing the problems they may face. Rita would wash and pack the dishes and pots and start getting the kids ready to go to bed in the boer wagon. Antonio and Albino would sleep near the central fire and would keep the fires burning all night to scare the wild animals away.
Black Roan - the symbol of Angola
Lion