438 repobt— 1879. 



Owing to circumstances alien to the wishes of his Government, this journey 

 was performed with scarcely any resources, the party living on the product of the 

 chase with occasional help from friendly natives. The traveller was well supplied 

 with scientific instruments, having two sextants, an artificial horizon, a telescope, 

 several compasses, three hypsometers, a small aneroid, and thermometers. His 

 meteorological observations, however, were not quite continuous for the whole 

 period, on account of interruptions by serious illness. He brought home a great 

 number of chronometrical longitudes, which cannot contain important errors, as his 

 chronometers were continually regulated and were compared with the result of the 

 eclipses of the first satellite of Jupiter. In May, 1878, he had the chance of observ- 

 ing the transit of Mercury across the sun, and such an observation afforded a 

 strictly correct longitude. 



Before reaching Bihe the traveller was surprised to meet the Cubango (Kubango) 

 river taking its rise to the west and not to the east of that place, as all existing 

 maps had led him to believe. This large river receives on the east a great affluent, 

 the Cuito (Kwito), which unites its waters with the Cubango at a place called 

 Darico. Within the wide fork formed by the two rivers, the Cuanza (Kwanza, or 

 Quanza) takes its source with some smaller affluents. 



Here was remarked a peculiar feature in the physical geography of this part of 

 Africa, viz., the dovetailing of the sources of rivers which in the rest of their 

 courses run in opposite directions. Close to the source of the Cuito rise three 

 other rivers ; two of which flow into the Atlantic by the Cuanza (of which they 

 are tributaries), and one into the Indian Ocean through the Zambesi. The same 

 feature is noticeable even beyond Lake Beinba, the Congo and the Zambesi, as well as 

 their affluents having their sources and mingling their streams near the 12th 

 parallel of south latitude. East of the river Cuito, in latitude 13° S. and longitude 

 19° E., the Cuando (or Kwando, named Chobe by Livingstone, who saw it near 

 its junction with the Zambesi) takes its rise. This is a large, navigable river, 

 watering a great extent of inhabited and fertile country. The Cuando receives 

 several great affluents, as navigable as itself. 



In this region, covered by forests and where the elephant still abounds, the 

 traveller found the Mucassequeres, peculiar from their yellowish-white colour. 

 They are nomadic and perfectly savage, spending their time continually wandering 

 in the region between the Cuando and the Cubango. There exists likewise another 

 nomad tribe, the Mussambas, who are black, and wander about to the south, 

 making their raids as far as the country of the Sulatebele. These people are, how- 

 ever, quite distinct from the Massaruas or Bushmen of the Kalahari desert. 



The country between Bihe and the Zambesi is inhabited by three distinct races : 

 the Kimbandes, the Luchares, and the Ambuellas. Another race is beginning now 

 to settle there ; and there is a considerable emigration of Quibocos ( Kibokwes) 

 coming from the north for the purpose of establishing themselves on the banks of 

 the Cubango and the Cuando, in their search of more fertile lands. Major Pinto 

 met large caravans of emigrants, and made a stay in their new settlements. 



All the above-mentioned country is splendid, and very fertile ; inhabited by 

 people of a docile character, susceptible of development, and strikingly fond of 

 dress, a disposition which points to a great prospective market for the consumption 

 of European manufactures. 



These tribes are governed absolutely by independent rulers, and constitute 

 confederations although belonging to different races. The missionary has never 

 reached them, nor had any European been seen among them till the arrival of 

 Major Pinto, who met with a cordial reception. 



Travelling eastward, the Liambai (the name given to part of the Zambesi above 

 the Falls) is the first river met with beyond the Cuando. As regards that part of 

 this great river which he examined, Major Pinto found these settlements of races 

 of a very different kind, and of very different customs, from those observed by 

 Livingstone. 



He fancies that the Liambai, where it describes its great curve to the westward, 

 lies more to the west than Livingstone supposed. Between the 16th parallel of 

 latitude and the Victoria Falls, a distance of 220 geographical miles, the river has- 

 seventy-two cataracts and rapids. 



