THE RESIDENTS 5 



administrative companies, of whom in a future 

 chapter I shall have occasion to speak at some 

 length, form admirable training schools, and, I 

 suppose, in years to come, they will turn out men 

 whose usefulness will go far to assist in civilising 

 the still existing savagery of the Zambezi Valley. 



For many years, the only Portuguese residents 

 might have been regarded as belonging to three 

 principal classes, none of which produced the most 

 desirable material, or indeed any capable of steady, 

 systematic work of the character now so essential. 

 These three classes consisted first of all of the 

 governing body, with its officials of the various 

 departments. Then came the Prazo-holders, and, 

 lastly, the merchant or trader. 



The Prazo-holder leased from the State vast 

 areas of land (Prazoes), some only a few hundreds 

 of square miles in extent, others half as large again 

 as the county of York. These were rented by 

 auction as vacancies in their occupancy occurred 

 (indeed such is, I understand, still the practice), 

 the upset price being based upon the number of 

 the native inhabitants living within their limits, 

 and the consequent amount of hut-tax recoverable 

 from them. At present the lessee pays to the 

 Government half the tax received, less a small 

 percentage for cost of collection, retaining the 

 balance himself. In some of the Prazoes of this 

 portion of the province, the annual amount 

 received in payment of this impost was formerly 

 very large, so much so that the old-time lessee, 

 secure of a good income from this source alone, 

 troubled his head but little to observe those con- 



