SPORT IN MOZAMBIQUE 



the basin. A peculiarity of the Chiringoma mountains 

 is that they have a level plain on their summits which 

 shelves gently down to the sea. This is a great facility 

 for the establishment of the proposed railway from 

 Beira to Lacerdonia, as there would be so much less 

 work required in laying the line. 



Three days' journey took me from Mazamba to 

 Beira. I did not stay there long, as I intended to 

 make use of the rest of the rainy season by dsiting 

 the lower Pungwe and the Uruma. But as I know by 

 experience the difficulties of getting about at flood- 

 time, I changed my mode of travelling. My friend 

 Puech possesses a large decked boat of ten tons, which 

 will carry everything necessary for a three months' 

 trip. The boat is large enough to take our tent, which 

 will be covered with a double roof, on deck. My wife 

 and myself will thus have a shelter for eating and 

 sleeping. The stern is also protected by an awning. 

 Puech will sleep on a camp-bed in the cabin ; for I 

 only borrowed the boat on condition that the owner 

 should accompany me, as I did not wish to be respon- 

 sible for the damages. It only takes a few minutes 

 to fix up and take down the double roof, for we must 

 not carry any canvas while under way, so that the 

 negroes can punt the boat along. I have engaged 

 ten of them specially for this work. We have two 

 Kafir canoes in tow, which will be very useful in 

 shallow water and flooded prairies. Whenever I see 

 a bird worth bagging, I take two men in one of these 



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