SPORT IN MOZAMBIQUE 



The climate of Chinde is good, and according to the 

 doctor of the hospital there is very little malaria and 

 few diseases. However, I found the native quarter 

 very dirty, and was not surprised to hear that some 

 years ago it suffered from a severe epidemic of bubonic 

 plague very difficult to stamp out. 



On December 1st I was told that a boat left at three 

 o'clock for the Shire. I therefore hastened to catch it. 

 The Zambezi boats are built on a special model, they 

 are flat-bottomed paddle-boats and are thus able to 

 ascend the river, which is very shallow in winter. 

 On deck, well protected by a double awning, are 

 the dining-saloon, the cabin of the captain (the only 

 white man on board), and the tiller ; the helms- 

 man being an intelligent negro, who piloted us with 

 surprising skill up the middle of the difficult channel. 

 Near him stands a man specially told off to drive away 

 the annoying swarms of gadflies. Two flat-bottomed 

 barges are suspended on either side of the boat, which 

 are each capable of carrying 300 tons. There is a 

 gang of thirty natives on board in readiness for the 

 work that would be necessary in the event of stranding. 

 Captain Hart, an Englishman, is very agreeable, and, 

 as he is a keen sportsman, he and I have plenty of 

 material for endless discussions. 



On leaving Chinde' we went up a tributary of the 

 Zambezi to find enough wood to last us as far as 

 Chimbwe. Having done this, we anchored for the 

 night in mid-stream so as to avoid the mosquitoes. 



(136) 



