A Thousand Miles in a Machilla 



administered by the Mozambique Company — is on 

 a spit of sand at the mouth of the Pungwe river. 

 There is one long street laid down with narrow 

 lines on which small four-wheeled trolleys, for goods 

 or passengers, are run ; on each side are private 

 houses, stores, and a few shops. Every house- 

 owner has his own covered trolley, which is propelled 

 by native runners. Ordinary wheeled traffic is 

 impossible on account of heavy sand. Beira is 

 considered a healthy spot, far more so than the 

 adjacent coast. The harbour has considerable 

 wharf accommodation, though not for ocean-going 

 steamers.^ 



The hotel, run by a British Colonial, was com- 

 fortable and well arranged, but entirely deficient of 

 any apparatus for combating the heat — a somewhat 

 serious defect in a place like Beira. Soon after our 

 arrival the sea breeze dropped, and the air grew 

 stiller and hotter as the day went on. That night 

 was one of the most oppressive we ever ex- 

 perienced. Bed was almost impossible on account of 

 the heat, and the balcony equally so on account of 

 the mosquitoes. An extra large variety is bred in 

 this neighbourhood. We wondered whether this 

 was the usual Beira summer weather, and if we 

 should survive to embark. Our luck was on the 

 mend, however; for dawn broke in heavy clouds, the 



^ Arrangements are being made for the construction of a 

 deep water wharf by the Beira Junction Railway Company. 

 This work has been already begun. It is believed that when 

 completed this port will be equal to the increased business 

 anticipated. 



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