LorUEXZO MAUQIES 47 



neighbourhood of tht' river receives the lion's 

 share of alluvium with each recurring flood, 

 the proportion declining as the river is left. 

 The slope is very gradual, almost imperceptible 

 at first, and it is never sulTered to become too 

 steep, because the flood-water, flowing with 

 greater velocity as the fall increases, carries 

 its sediment farther away, thus readjusting the 

 gradient. 



The alluvial plain of the Incomati may be said 

 to end (always remembering that we are ascend- 

 ing the river) half-way between Chinavane and 

 Magude, but the River Munctsi (Mwenetsi, 

 Uanotzi), west of Magude, may be taken as 

 roughly the limit to which the Incomati over- 

 flows its banks, seriously inundating the adjacent 

 land. Considerable areas of high and dry country 

 arc passed at Marracuene, Manhica, between 

 Chinaveno and Magude, and at Magude itself. 

 Swampy land again is found here and there above 

 the Munetsi. But to provide for a general classi- 

 fication of the Incomati Valley we may take the 

 Munetsi as marking the floodgate. Following 

 the deviations of the river the junction of this 

 tributary is about 150 miles from Lourenzo 

 Marques. 



The land of the alluvial plain suitable for sugar- 

 planting is limited in area, and must be sought, 



