" July 1595. Here I am in the garden, writing in the language of our worst enemy. If the words have any magical power, they will serve me to prepare a plan to drive the Portuguese out of our country. Perhaps one day, these few pages will teach others than me, Nzingha, first daughter of Ngola Kiluanji, I was a Mbundue, of this free and powerful people who were not afraid to defend our good- loved Ndogo country, in the Cuanza river valley. "