BOAT-BUILDING. 423 



by the Portuguese to coerce the enemy or defend them- 

 selves, information is conveyed at once to the Landeen 

 camp, and, though the commandant prohibits the payment 

 of tribute to the Landeens, on their approach the half- 

 castes eagerly ransom themselves. 



The village of Senna stands on the right bank of the 

 Zambesi. There are many reedy islands in front of it, 

 and there is much bush in the country adjacent. The soil 

 is fertile; but the village, being in a state of ruin, and 

 having several pools of stagnant water, is very unhealthy. 



The most pleasant sight I witnessed at Senna was the 

 negroes of Senhor Isidore building boats after the European 

 model, without any one to superintend their operations. 

 They had been instructed by a European master, but now 

 go into the forest and cut down the niotondo-trees, lay 

 down the keel, fit in the ribs, and make very neat boats 

 and launches, valued at from £20 to £100. Senhor Isidore 

 had some of them instructed also in carpentry at Eio 

 Janeiro, and they constructed for him the handsomest 

 house in Kilimane, the woodwork being all of country 

 trees, some of which are capable of a fine polish, ana very 

 durable. 



On the 9th of May sixteen of my men were employed to 

 carry Government goods in canoes up to Tete. They were 

 much pleased at getting this work. On the 11th the whole 

 of the inhabitants of Senna, with the commandant, accom- 

 panied us to the boats. A venerable old man, son of a 

 judge, said they were in much sorrow on account of the 

 miserable state of decay into which they had sunk, and of 

 the insolent conduct of the people of Kisaka now in the 

 village. We were abundantly supplied with provisions by 

 the commandant and Senhor Ferrao, and sailed pleasantly 

 down the broad river. About thirty miles below Senna 

 we passed the mouth of the river Zangwe on our right, 

 which farther up goes by the name of Pungwe ; and about 

 live miles farther on our left, close to the end of a low 

 range into which Morumbala merges, we crossed tha 



