MOZAMBIQUE. 267 



"Mozambique is a wonderful contrast to 

 Quillimane, where nature in her brightest mood 

 has covered the fertile ground with charming 

 groves of trees and flowers lanes of verdure and 

 towering elegant palms. At Mozambique clumsy 

 man, in his most depressing style, has reared 

 ugly solid stone buildings and churches in narrow 

 streets, on the dry and barren coral rock. 



"Mozambique was very sultry and hot both 

 day and night, and everything and everybody 

 appeared to be asleep. Its photograph w T ould 

 pass very well for that of a ruined and deserted 

 city ; the heavy weight of ages appears to rest 

 on its monumental buildings and its untrodden 

 streets and squares, and to press all life and 

 enjoyment out of the dispirited inhabitants.* 

 The military band played twice whilst we were 

 there in a pretty square in front of the Governor- 

 General's palace, and we went to listen to it, and 



* Many of the bouses were painted yellow, pink, or grey, and 

 the ground was all white sand, most painful to the eyes. It 

 would indeed be a dreary and confined spot for a lengthened 

 residence, especially to a lover of nature. We walked all over the 

 island in less than two hours ! 



