I'm contemplating building a portuguese prazeros (or prazeiros) army for HEART OF AFRICA but can't find information on the appearance of some troops.
Does anyone know how Makua or Humbi tribesmen looked like ?
I haven't found picture of Portuguese settlers and slave soldiers of the period. I have a few ideas of figures to use to represent them but pictures would be most welcome
Thank you for your help
That Humbi photo from my page has come a long way. I actually scanned it from the cover of a book about Colonial Campaigns in Angola a long time ago.
As for Zambezian Prazos, depending on period, you can use most Ruga-Ruga/African Auxiliaries and generic Native types for "Chikundas" and "European" dressed figures for the "Muzungos" (Prazeiros). The "Portuguese" Prazeiros weren't just Europeans but also Goans and Mestiços.
Here's a useful 17th C. picture and description of Macuas:
http://www.jehsmith.com/.a/6a00d83453bcda69e20120a5c648b1970c-500wi"Lip Gallantry, or certaine Labiall fashions invented by divers Nations
The Macuas, not farr from Macambique, among other notes of their Gallantry,
have holes in their Lips, in the upper of which they put little pegs of wood,
as big as a hens quill; of a finger long, sticking right out like a naile,
in the lower Lip they weare a leaden bung, so close and heavy that the lip fals to the beard,
shewing their gums and filed teeth, that they seem divils: this is their gallantry,
or rather their loathsome bravery; for when they are sad they leave these holes open,
and many others of their owne making."
John Bulwer, Man Transform'd: or, the artificiall Changling (1653).