CHAPTER XII 



THE RAID 



AT the present day (in the year 1912), there are, 

 in Portuguese East Africa, vast tracts of country 

 where law and order are things unknown such as, 

 for instance, the region that extends from the Mavia 

 country, east of the Lujenda River (a tributary of 

 the Rovuma), southwards towards British Nyassaland 

 and westward to the shores of Lake Nyassa. Here, 

 but in a modified degree, the same social conditions 

 exist as have existed from time immemorial. One 

 petty chief is continually at variance with another 

 petty chief, and, save in those instances where com- 

 mon cause is made against the hated Portuguese and 

 their regime, every man's hand is against his brother 

 man. In this vast region of primeval forest, dotted 

 with numerous native villages inhabited by a goodly 

 population, there exist only two or three Portuguese 

 bomas or forts. There are, I admit, several outposts 

 (each manned by one European and a few askaris 

 or native soldiers) which masquerade under the name 



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