REGION EAST OF LONDA. 5X3 



being on opposite sides of the equator. The waters of the Nile 

 are said to become turbid in June ; and the flood attains its 

 greatest height in August, or the period when we may suppose 

 the supersaturation to occur. The subject is worthy the inves- 

 tigation of those who may examine the region between the 

 equator and 10° S. ; for the Nile does not show much increase 

 when the sun is at its farthest point north, or tropic of Cancer, 

 but at the time of its returning to the equator, exactly as in 

 the other case when he is on Capricorn, and the Zambesi is 

 affected.* 



From information derived from Arabs of Zanzibar, whom I met 

 at Naliele in the middle of the country, the region to the east of 

 the parts of Londa over which we have traveled resembles them 

 in its conformation. They report swampy steppes, some of which 

 have no trees, where the inhabitants use grass, and stalks of 

 native corn, for fuel. A large shallow lake is also pointed out in 

 that direction, named Tanganyenka, which requires three days 

 for crossing in canoes. It is connected with another named 

 Kalagwe (Garague?), farther north, and may be the Nyanja of 

 the Maravim. From this lake is derived, by numerous small 

 streams, the River Loapula, the eastern branch of the Zam- 

 besi, which, coming from the N.E., flows past the town of 

 Cazembe. 



The southern end of this lake is ten days northeast of the town 

 of Cazembe ; and as that is probably more than five days from 

 Shinte, we can not have been nearer to it than 150 miles. Proba- 



* The above is from my own observation, together with information derived from 

 the Portuguese in the interior of Angola ; and I may add that the result of many 

 years' observation by Messrs. Gabriel and Brand at Loanda, on the west coast, is in 

 accordance therewith. It rains there between the 1st and 30th of November, but 

 January and December are usually both warm and dry. The heavier rains com- 

 mence about the 1st of February, and last until the 15th of May. Then no rain 

 falls between the 20th of May and the 1st of November. The rain averages from 

 12 to 15 inches per annum. In 1852 it was 12.031 inches ; in 1853, 15.473 inches. 

 Although I had no means of measuring the amount of rain which fell in Londa, I 

 feel certain that the annual quantity exceeds very much that which falls on the 

 coast, because for a long time we noticed that every dawn was marked by a delu- 

 ging shower, which began without warning-drops or thunder. I observed that the 

 rain ceased suddenly on the 28th of April, and the lesser rains commenced about a 

 fortnight before the beginning of November. 



Kk 



