MOZAMBIQUE. 269 



who had gone on a visit to Zanzibar and 

 Madagascar, a well-earned holiday, for to dis- 

 charge the duties of his office as he does so 

 actively and energetically must be a task that 

 not only few would accomplish, but that few 

 can even appreciate who have not been to 

 Mozambique. 



" We had not an opportunity of visiting the 

 mainland, which is said to be fertile, and where 

 the seat of government should be removed if 

 the trade and industry of the place is to be 

 developed. In the harbour were a number of 

 merchantmen, a Portuguese corvette, two gun- 

 boats, and two small paddle-wheel river gun- 

 boats ; but with all this strength and staff the 

 rest of their extensive sea is totally unprotected, 

 not a port or bar is surveyed, and the pro- 

 posed lightship for Inyak Island is rotting in 

 Delagoa Bay, waiting now for over a year 

 for a man-of-war to fix her in the proper 

 position.* 



* The lightship was eventually placed in its position, but has 

 long since broken up and never been replaced. 



