92 Geographical Notices. 



confluence of the Kafue. This may have been introduced from the west 



The Tonje Kaja is, according to situation, either perennial or annual; 



March and gatliered in August. In the valleys it forms a shrub, remain- 

 ing several years in the soil. It is readily known from the other sort by 

 leaf and seed. The cotton is of very short staple, seldom exceeding half 

 an inch ; it very much resembles wool, and adheres strongly to the seed, 

 from which it cannot be entirely removed: this renders it much more 

 troublesome to pick, and an iron roller is employed to facilitate the 



The plant is much less prolific than the other, and the only good 

 quality possessed by it is superior strength, on which account some still 

 prefer it. It is the most universally distributed, being seen everywhere 



of the Shire. In the region shut off from the coast by Lake Shirwa, it 

 becomes the only sort grown ; but the foreign kind is advancing from 

 both north and south, and fast displacing it. 



Tonje Manga, the sort of recent introduction, is, like the other, annual 

 or perennial ; it is superior in every respect, and attains a much greater 

 size. The staple varies from half an inch to an inch and a quarter, has 

 great luster, and separates from the seed, which has a clean black coat. 

 \¥hat is now produced on the Zambesi and Shire equals much of ^ ' 

 Egyptian, and might be improved by the judicious selection of seed. ' ' 

 there is no necessity for the introduction of new seed, what is now iri- 

 on the Shire being of good quality and very prolific. The vai iev 

 Tonje Manga found in the central African valley above the Victoria t '> 

 and as ftir down as the confluence of the Kafue, differs in the cohesion ot 

 the seeds of each cell which form a mass, from the exterior of which the 

 cotton separates easily. The plant attains a great size, and continues 

 seemingly for an indefinite time. Among the ruins of the old town oi 

 Sesheke a single plant was measured with a woody stem 8 inches diameter 

 and covering a space of 12 feet. This year it had yielded an abundant 

 crop of cotton f of an inch in fiber. 



Having found cotton throughout the whole extent of country explored, 

 ■we know what quality may certainly be obtained, while much more may 

 be expected from careful cultivation. The only cotton seed brought by 

 us, superior to that already in the country, was the Sea Island variety: 

 this yielded excellent cotton 1 J inch long when grown under the roost 

 disadvantageous circumstances, and the plant still continues at Tette, 

 although uncared for. Nowhere have we seen cotton which would not 

 be worlh exportation, but the best is that of the Manganja country, where 

 the people have given it much attention ; thence it might also be ex- 

 ported with least "expense, while Europeans, settled in the neighboring 

 highlands, could direct and superintend the natives of the valleys. 



The Delta is excellent cotton ground, but unfit for Europeans, and the 

 present population is verv thin and unsettled. Beyond Kebrabassa the 

 Zambesi valley both below and above the Victoria Falls, with the Batok* 

 highlands, might produce a vast supply, and the Batoka hills present > 

 healthy station for residents; but the difficulties at present connected with 



