238 eographical Notices. 
Having got into the main stream, we found that we had, in 
going to it and spending a month there, allowed the water to fall 
considerably. It was, also, so very much lower than usual that 
the Portuguese prophesied that we could not ascend ten miles. 
It was said, also, that war was raging, and no one would be 
allowed to go up, even if he could. Our ship drew nine feet seven 
inches, and she was under engagement to go to Ceylon. We 
therefore, to avoid detention in the river, sent her off, and went 
up to the seat of war in a small steamer, drawing two feet SIX 
inches. We had no difficulty with the “rebels,” as they were 
called—indeed, we got pilots from them, and continued ever aller 
on the best of terms with the Portuguese. They were called 
“rebels,” as they had all been runaway slaves, and bore the 
marks, in brands on their chests, of their former servitude. 
Slaveholders here must be civil, for it is so easy to run away, 
that if slaves go to the Landius, who are of the Zulu family, they 
never deliver them up. I have never heard of but one¢ oO 
the contrary, and the owner—a great favorite of theirs—W ‘a 
obliged to give them his full value. This isa digression, but 
may finish off by saying that the Portuguese governo? attackee = 
the rebels, and they retired before him, there being plenty of 1702 
for all parties. eit as | 
e continue carrying on luggage up the river till Novem =| 
when it reaches its lowest point; and with care a flat-bo 
boat would do business even then. We know it now at mt 
worst, and, as it spreads out to from one to three. mule ; 
breadth, it is in many of the crossings not more than ee 
half or three feet. Just now the water stands twelve feet 
low water mark in November, and we are all quite sure 
during at least eight months in each year a steamer © | 
five feet could trade without embarrassment. |The Tease” 
so little has been known about the Zambese river, has mer 
hich -it was @* 
ers ; oraphers, 
from navigators. And their easy chair geogr in the Zam 
ese 
as flowing into the sea at Quilimane, which, in his days tr 
of the 
- 
all about it long ago; and no one would have pomte i 
with this river as has been done, making it lose = ‘dea of it 
under the Kalobaro desert. You may forma petra the Shi? 
size if I tell you of one of the branches. We ascend 
