204 MOZAMBIQUE | 



visited in East Africa could provide such an 

 object-lesson in native industry and application 

 as one of these large prazo stations, for example, 

 Porto Bello. This is not only a proof of the 

 high intelligence of the natives of the district, 

 but reflects great credit on the prazo managers 

 to whose patient instruction these results are due. 



But when all is said, a system under which 

 the richest district in the Province is practically 

 the reserve of a few companies by no means 

 wealthy, cultivating but a minute fraction of the 

 land, is a system that cannot continue. It 

 belongs to a back era and must go. 



The w^hole of the left bank of the river from 

 Mount Morrumbala to Chinde as well as the 

 right bank as far as Sena, with the exception 

 of about 20 miles at Chupanga, have been 

 acquired by one prazo company. The island of 

 Inhangoma is in the occupation of another. 

 Hence practically all the rich sugar lands of the 

 Chire and the Zambezi from Chilomo down- 

 wards are the reserves of two companies, and 

 though the natural resources of the rivers are 

 rich and extensive, it would seem as if they are 

 likely to remain locked up, save for the com- 

 paratively small operations of these companies. 



That portion of the district of Quelimane 

 administered directly by the Government con- 



