NARRATIVE RESUMED. 277 



" Besides gold, there is iron in this district in 

 abundance, of excellent quality. In some places it 

 is obtained from what is called the specular iron ore, 

 in others from black oxide. The latter has been 

 well roasted in the operations of nature, and con- 

 tains a large proportion of metal. It occurs gene- 

 rally in rounded lumps, and is but slightly magnetic. 

 The natives become aware of its existence in the 

 beds of rivers by the quantity of oxide on the sur- 

 face, and they find no difficulty in digging it with 

 pointed sticks. They consider English iron as 

 " rotten" ; and I have seen a javelin of their own 

 iron curled up by a severe blow like the proboscis of 

 a butterfly, and afterwards straightened while cold 

 with two stones. So far as I could learn there is 

 neither copper nor silver. Malachite is worked by 

 the people of Cazembe, but, as I did not see it nor 

 any other metal, I can say nothing about it. A few 

 precious stones are met with, and some parts are 

 quite covered with agates. The mineralogy of the 

 district, however, has not been explored by anyone 

 competent to the task. 



" The scenery of the country surrounding Tete is 

 picturesque, being hilly and well wooded. The soil 

 of the valleys is very fruitful and well cultivated. 

 The plantations of coffee, however, are now deserted, 

 and it is difficult to find a single tree." 



While with the Manica chief we were abundantly 

 supplied with meat, and finer beef than that ob- 



