Livingstones Expedition. — The Rovuma River. 91 



ited. The area thus included extends over 11° of longitude and 5° of 

 latitude ; the greatest height above the sea level being 8000_ feet. 



The Zambesi forms a large Delta, commencing 60 miles from its mouth ; 

 the coast for about 8 miles inland is muddy, wooded with mangrove, avi- 

 cennia, and other trees peculiar to such places within the tropics ; the 

 remainder of the Delta consists of rich flat alluvial lands, intersected by 

 many branches of the river. This great tract is covered almost exclusive- 

 ly with gigantic grasses, which keep down all other forms of vegetation, 

 only borassus palms, with a few figs, acacias, or lignum vita3 trees, being 



wn. The people at present inhabiting the Delta are for the most part 



country, which once produced corn, vegetables, and fruits in abundance. 

 Near the coast cotton of an inch staple is found growing wild, having 

 sprung up from seed accidentally scattered ; this equals in value much of 

 the Egyptian. Climate and soil are admirably suited, seeing that the 

 plant succeeds so well without cultivation, surrounded by weeds. In the 

 more inland districts it could not raise its head above the dense luxuri- 

 ance of the other vegetation. The labor required to cultivate cotton 

 here is very small, and the Delta might be made a vast cotton field by 

 encouraging the natives to industry. Many parts of these lands are also 

 united for the growth of the sugar cane ; a little is now raised near the 

 ^■"'"^ and succeeds well ; and it might be raised in most parts even with- 

 'iiization. Besides sorghum, pennisetura, maize, setaria, eleusine, 

 'inis other sorts of native corn, the Delta also yields wheat during 

 ! season. Rice of good qualitv is also cultivated. Tropical fruits 

 d well, and near the coast ma'ngos, pine-apples, guavas, cashews, 

 •cuiuus, oranges, and cocoa-nuts are still found where Portuguese settle- 

 ments bad existed in former times. . ^ 



The climate of the Delta is mild, presenting neither the excessive heat 



nor cold of the interior ; the atmosphere is much moister, and heavy 



^ews are frequent ; the prevalence of a sea breeze renders the parts near 



'' i>t more healthy than those within the mangroves. The malaria, 



:U an obstacle to the settlement of Europeans, is by no means so 



as that of the west coast; and we have not found a case which 



i treatment, while a cure is commonly eflfected on the third day. 



>e passing through or remaining for a short time, there seems to 



^« no danger. But in order that this might become an extensive source 



ot cotton, the permanent residence of Europeans is not necessary, if it 



»ere raised by the natives and purchased from them by agents, a steady 



supply might be depended on ; but time would be needed, even ^under a 



»ise government, to bring the Delta back to a flourishing state." * 



"Co«on.— There are tlo species of the cotton plant cultivated m the 

 countries explored : one of these, known as Tovje Kaja, has been m 

 ^istence for a long time, and may be indigenoi - -' '- '"*- 



ndV it is found 'everywhere, but is being replaced by t 

 Tonje Manga, which signifies foreign co 



t named Tonje Manga, 

 ntroduction, having co 

 k. variety of the Tonje Manga is met 



nth in the interior of I 



^O'itinent, but not found much further east on the Zambesi i 



