416 LIBERALITY OF COMMANDANT. 



yields under ground, as well as the Arachis "hypogcea, or 

 groundnut; with cucumbers, pumpkins, and melons. The 

 wheat is sown in low-lying places which are annually 

 flooded by the Zambesi. When the waters retire, the 

 women drop a few grains in a hole made with a hoe, then 

 push back the soil with the foot. One weeding alone is 

 required before the grain comes to maturity. This simple 

 process represents all our sub-soil ploughing, liming, ma- 

 nuring, and harrowing, for in four months after planting a 

 good crop is ready for the sickle, and has been known to 

 yield a hundred-fold. . It flourished still more at Zumbo. 

 No irrigation is required, because here there are gentle 

 rains, almost like mist, in winter, which go by the name 

 of " wheat-showers," and are unknown in the interior, 

 where no winter rain ever falls. The rains at Tete come 

 from the east, though the prevailing winds come from the 

 S.S.E. The finest portion of the flour does not make 

 bread nearly so white as the seconds, and here the boyaloa, 

 (pombe,) or native beer, is employed to mix with the flour 

 instead of yeast. It makes excellent bread. At Kilimane, 

 where the cocoanut-palm abounds, the toddy from it, called 

 "sura," is used for the same purpose, and makes the bread 

 still lighter. 



As it was necessary to leave most of my men at this 

 place, Major Sicard gave them a portion of land on which 

 to cultivate their own food, generously supplying them 

 with corn in the mean time. He also said that my young 

 men might go and hunt elephants in company with his 

 servants, and purchase goods with both the ivory and dried 

 meat, in order that they might have something to take with 

 them on their return to Sekeletu. The men were delighted 

 with his liberality, and soon sixty or seventy of them set 

 off to engage in this enterprise. There was no calico to be 

 had at this time in Tete, but the commandant handsomely 

 furnished my men with clothing. I was in a state of want 

 myself; and, though I pressed him to take payment m 

 ivory for both myself aud men, he refused all recompense. 



