''The members of the canto would borrow a keg from one of the warehouses on Julião or Pilar Street. The would fill it with sea water, bind it with ropes, and stick a long board through the ropes. From 8-12 Ethiopians, usually the strongest of the lot, would lift the keg, on top of which the new captain would ride, holding the branch of a bush in one hand and in the other a bottle of white rum.
The entire canto would parade toward the Pedreiras neighborhood. Porters would intone a monotonous air, in an African dialect or patois.
They would return, in the same order, to the point of departure. The recently elected captain was then congratulated by members of other cantos, and on that occasion, he performed a sort of exorcism with the liquor bottle, sprinkling a few drops of its contents out.
This confirmed the election''〔Reis, João José Brakel, Arthur (2006). "Slave Rebellion in Brazil: The Muslim Uprising of 1835 in Bahia". Pg. 164-165〕