316 PARKER ON THE QUILIMANE AND ZAMBESI RIVERS. [Mak. 9, 1857. 



scriptions on its top. It was famed for its salubrity and the pnrity of its 

 waters, and the Jesuits, accordingly, had a settlement there. Below that 

 point the river was capable of bearing a very large vessel, but as he had only 

 seen it at its height, he could not be supposed to know its capabilities at any 

 other time of the year. He had lately received a note from Lieutenant 

 Hoskins, who served under Captain Parker, and this gentleman stated that 

 he perfectly agreed with what he. Dr. Livingston, said in reference to the 

 Quilimane river not being the Zambesi at all : — 



" The Zambesi appears to have five principal mouths, of which the Luabo is 

 the most southern and most navigable ; Cumana, and two whose names I do 

 not know, not having myself visited it, lying between it and the Quilimane, 

 and the rise and fall at spring-tides on the bar of the Luabo is 22 feet ; and, as 

 in the passage, there is never less than 4 feet (I having crossed it at dead 

 low-water — s])rings), this would give an average depth sufficient for any 

 commercial purposes. The- rise and fall is 6 feet greater, the passages 

 narrower and more defined, consequently deeper and more easily found than 

 that of the Quilimane river. The river above the bar is very tortuous, but 

 deep ; and it is observable that the influence of the tide is felt much higher 

 in this branch than in the others ; for whereas in the Catinna and Cumana I 

 have obtained drinkable water a very short distance from the mouth, in the 

 Luabo I have ascended 70 miles without finding the saltness perceptibly 

 diminished. This would facilitate navigation, and I have no hesitation in 

 saying that little difficulty would be experienced in conveying a steam-vessel 

 of the size and cajlabilities of the gunboat I lately commanded as high as the 

 branching off of the Quilimane river, which, in the dry season, is observed 

 many yards above the Luabo ; though I have been told by the Portuguese that 

 the freshes which come down in December and March fill it temporarily. 

 These freshes deepen the river considerably at that time of the year, and 

 freshen the water many miles from the coast. The population of the delta, 

 except in the immediate neighbourhood of the Portuguese, appeared to be very 

 sparse. Antelope and hippopotami, the former tame and easily shot. I 

 inquired frequently of both natives and Portuguese if slavers were in the 

 habit of watering there to ship their cargoes, but could not ascertain that they 

 have ever done so in any except the Quilimane. With common precaution 

 the rivers are not unhealthy ; for, during the whole time I was employed in 

 them (off and on during eighteen months), in open boats and at all times of 

 the year, frequently absent from the ship for a month or six weeks at a time, 

 I had not, in my boat's crew of 14 men, more than two, and those mild, cases 

 of fever. Too much importance cannot be ascribed to the use of quinine, to 

 which I attribute our comparative immunity, and with which our judicious 

 commander. Commodore Wyvill, kept us amply supplied. I hope these few 

 remarks may be of some little use in confirming your views of the utility of 

 that magnificent river. 



" A. H. H. Hoskins." 



It appeared to him. Dr. Livingston, from all the information he could obtain, 

 that this branch of the Zambesi was navigable for ships of some burden, j^ro- 

 vided they entered at spring tides, but he should not recommend a gunboat 

 to be sent up the river. Although a large vessel might go up without any 

 difficulty, as far as Tete, for some months when the river was full, it would 

 be advisable, in any attentpt to ascertain its navigability, to send a vessel of 

 the very lightest draught, otherwise it might get stuck on some bank in a 

 very unhealthy part of the river, and the whole attempt might be frustrated 

 by disease. 



In answer to an inquiry from Mr. Galton, Dr. Livingston stated that 

 there were no obstructions in the river lower down than 20 miles above 



