294 EXISTING SETTLERS 



cattle existing are the property of the sugar com- 

 panies, certain Indians, and the clergy of the 

 Shnpanga Mission Station. The natives do not 

 possess cattle, and I heard it stated, with I do not 

 know how much truth, that they are not encouraged 

 to own them. This seems inexplicable when one 

 considers how costly they are on the coast-line of 

 the Province, and how profitable their export 

 thence, as well as that of their hides, might 

 become. 



On the whole, I suppose Zambezia cannot be 

 said to possess many settlers, when account is taken 

 of the immensity of its area. In the north-west 

 portion, where the principal mineral deposits are 

 situated, a small scattered group of Europeans 

 are endeavouring, in the face of great natural diffi- 

 culties, to extract gold from what are undeniably 

 rich mining propositions. The success which has 

 so far attended their efforts has been, I think, in 

 every way most thoroughly deserved, and I hope 

 that with increasing facilities of transport this in- 

 dustry may attract very considerable capital and 

 labour to the gold-fields. I learn from the Governor 

 of the district that a considerable recent influx of 

 prospectors has taken place into the copper-fields, 

 and to what extent soever the saying may have 

 passed into almost proverbial use that the location 

 of mines of great value comes usually rather as a 

 surprise than as the result of scientific prediction, 

 I feel there is in this case substantial justification 

 for the forecast that mineral industries will one day 

 have much to do with the future development of 

 this portion of the valley of the Zambezi 



