THE COCONUT PALM 12] 



actual number of prazoes existing within the whole 

 of the great region which this work is endeavouring 

 to describe, but from the fact that, in addition to the 

 immense area still under active development by that 

 body, the Zambezia Company alone has sublet no 

 less than fifty-one, it will be understood that there 

 are many more than could be traced without the 

 expenditure of very considerable time and trouble. 



Of course those prazoes situated nearest to the 

 coast, as also those within tolerably easy distance 

 of Quehmane and the main streams of the Zambezi, 

 have more to show as the outcome of industrial 

 effort than the remoter concessions, and here we 

 see some noteworthy results ; but even yet there 

 remain to the north of Quelimane immense tracts 

 of country which might be, and assuredly one day 

 will be, subdivided into prazoes. These are of extra- 

 ordinary fertility, and doubtless possess sufficient 

 of a native population to enable development to be 

 satisfactorily prosecuted ; naturally, however, for 

 reasons which are not difficult to understand, the 

 chief attention has been lavished upon the more 

 accessible areas, and they have now much to show 

 for the great labour and outlay which have been in 

 the past expended upon them. 



The principal form of agricultural exploitation 

 pursued near the coast is that of the plantation and 

 cultivation of the coconut palm, and so actively 

 and perseveringly is this important work being 

 carried on that I look to this portion of the pro- 

 vince to furnish, a few years hence, as much or 

 more of that valuable product copra * as is shipped 



* The dried edible substance of the coconut. 



