BETWEEN THE ZAMBEZI AND THE PUNGWE 



This proved a necessary precaution, for the dressing 

 was hardly finished before the Hon reappeared in front 

 of the hut, to which he laid siege all night, although 

 in vain. The next day the negro died of his wounds, 

 and his interment preceded the marriage, thus making 

 a double ceremony. 



On December 19th I set out at eight o'clock, and in 

 an hour's time reached Lacerdonia, an old ruined 

 fortress built to awe the natives. I was received by 

 the commandant, and in his house saw a pair of tusks 

 belonging to an elephant killed in the forest of Chupanga 

 by hunters in the pay of the Mozambique Company. 

 They must weigh between eighty and ninety 

 pounds. 



Although Lacerdonia has not much trade at present, 

 it will probably increase in importance if the railway 

 that has been talked of for the last fifteen years is 

 ever made, in which case this place ought to be the 

 terminus. After having crossed the Zangwe in a canoe 

 and left the concession of Signora Maria (a half-caste 

 woman known to all travellers) on my right, I reached 

 Chinde and visited the Portuguese commandant, who 

 wanted to put me up. On the way I passed 

 numerous well-cultivated villages, which denoted real 

 industry on the part of the negroes. It is a fact that 

 there were white people in this country five centuries 

 ago. I stayed a day in Chimb we, in order to visit 

 the plantation of a new sugar-company, and at four 

 o'clock the next morning set out for Sena, the chief 



( Hi ) 



