viii .PREFACE. 



additional recollections ; and this must be my 

 apology for an occasional change of tense. 



I have purposely refrained from touching upon 

 the delicate and difficult subject of political 

 matters, nor have I ventured upon any geo- 

 graphical description of the country, leaving 

 such subjects to be gathered from works com- 

 piled by wiser heads than mine, but have simply 

 endeavoured to truthfully represent my own 

 actual observations and experiences, I fear in a 

 most erratic and unscientific manner. 



Many improvements have taken place from 

 time to time in the town of Loureuo Marques 

 since I began this little book and since the 

 advent of the railway, itself the greatest im- 

 provement ; and mention of these will be found 

 in Chapter XII. 



I have thought it best not to give the names 

 of any friends, but my sincere thanks are due 

 to them for the many kindnesses shown me 

 during my five years of solitude. 



R. M. 



