May 12, 1856.] BENGUELA TO MOZAMBIQUE, 75 



ADDITIONAL NOTICES. 



1. Journey from Benguela to Mozambique. Translated from the 



Portuguese * Boletim e Annaes do Conselho UltramarinoJ 



On the 12th of November, 1854, some Moorish traders arrived at the capital 

 of the Portuguese province of Mozambique, on the S.E. coast of Africa, 

 bearing a despatch from the Governor of Angola, on the West Coast. They 

 left Benguela on the 9th of June, 1853, and were accompanied by Antonio 

 Francisco da Silva Porta as far as Cutonge, where they an-ived in 107 days. 

 It is to be lamented that no instructed person had joined the party, for very 

 little information could be obtained from them. They found large towns and 

 dwellings in every part ; they had to pass four large rivers on rafts ; they 

 came to inhabited places where ivory was of very little value, and this was 

 more or less the case throughout the journey, principally at Chamopa, on the 

 right bank of the Chamoriro, a great river without fords. Provisions abounded 

 everywhere, and the inhabitants were docile, and rich in good cattle. The 

 following itinerary gives all the information which could be obtained from the 

 travellers. 



On the 9th of June, 1853, they left Benguela, and proceeding in a southerly 

 direction, arrived at Cutonge, which they left on September 22, 1853. They 

 passed the river Nambuate, travelling along the side of a thick forest on its 

 left bank, through a fertile country. At Evianda they spent three days, and 

 passing through the small town of Namelio, they reached the deep river 

 Namecaque, 100 fathoms (brafas) wide, running from north to south through 

 cultivated plains. The following small places, with few inhabitants, were 

 reached in succession, viz., Inane, Metondo, Ohontongo, Molonde, Nuhete- 

 Cassilura, and Luana ; and then the fordable river Tuanhete, and the small places 

 called Poinge, Mussangue, Cambira, Hate, and Macomba, the last having only 

 a few people. The Moors then penetrated through a forest called Mulugane, 

 where they suffered from a scarcity of water ; and at Ohcoingo they found the 

 great river Chamoriro, running southward, with the large town of Chamopa 

 on its right bank, abounding with provisions, the country being cultivated. 

 The track proceeds to the town of Ilaycolom, and across the small rivers 

 Pacapi90 and Mecomalache to the small towns of Tagumbe and Pasmube, and 

 the forest of Xambia. Several towns were now passed in the following order : — 

 Cartacorbo, Ococalhe, Hohambe, Coguem, Ponhina, Laquie, Muiasse, Vicicu, 

 Pacacello, Capane, Rumbue, Guiner, the large town of Coimba, with culti- 

 vated lands ^and no' lack of food, Cocussilmba, Oramba, Rupachasse, and 

 Pansuanrba, the last-named town having sufficient cultivated land, but its 

 inhabitants are great thieves. After crossing the fordable river Corimba and 

 Sund, they came to a town of the Muizas, called Paringa, where they could 

 find nothing to eat ; but several places were afterwards passed, all of which 

 were inhabited and cultivated by the Muizas, and contained many people, 

 who were generally hospitable and good. The names of these places are 

 Semda, Pacalem, Chuma, Musambe, Quelebia, Rusanga, Mataracuens, Mus- 

 sana, Timbore, and Pararo. The great river Ruanga appears to be the 

 boundary of the Muizas territory. The next towns, Runga and Cambille, 

 were followed by the forest of Muito, the town of Quicusse, with many 

 people, and the forest of Tumbuca. Three towns were now successively 

 reached, named Utura, Patuama, and Tagumc, having many people and 

 much cattle ; then the small town of Uamache, and other small towns with 

 few inhabitants, named Tabia, Tambuca, Muache, Cocassura, Moache, and 



