THE NJEFU.— MAZAKO. 709 



India. Government derives a large revenue from them in Kash- 

 mir, amounting to £12,000 per annum for 128,000 ass-loads ! 

 The ancient Thracians are said to have eaten them largely. In 

 the south of France they are called water-chestnuts." The exist- 

 ence of these plants in such abundance in the Shire may show 

 that it flows from large collections of still water. We found them 

 growing in all the still branches and lagoons of the Leeambye in 

 the far north, and there also we met a beautiful little floating plant, 

 the Azolla JVtlotica, which is found in the upper Nile. They are 

 seldom seen in flowing streams. 



A few miles beyond the Shire we left the hills entirely, and 

 sailed between extensive flats. The banks seen in the distance 

 are covered with trees. We slept on a large inhabited island, 

 and then came to the entrance of the River Mutu (latitude 18° 3' 

 37" S., longitude 35° 46' E.) : the point of departure is called 

 Mazaro, or "mouth of the Mutu." The people who live on the 

 north are called Baroro, and their country Bororo. The whole of 

 the right bank is in subjection to the Landeens, who, it was imag- 

 ined, would levy a tribute upon us, for this they are accustomed to 

 do to passengers. I regret that we did not meet them, for, though 

 they are named Caffres, I am not sure whether they are of the 

 Zulu family or of the Mashona. I should have liked to form their 

 acquaintance, and to learn what they really think of white men. 

 I understood from Sekwebu, and from one of Changamera's people 

 who lives at Linyanti, and was present at the attack on Senna, 

 that they consider the whites as a conquered tribe. 



The Zambesi at Mazaro is a magnificent river, more than 

 half a mile wide, and without islands. The opposite bank is 

 covered with forests of fine timber ; but the delta which begins 

 here is only an immense flat, covered with high, coarse grass 

 and reeds, with here and there a few mango and cocoanut 

 trees. This was the point which was reached by the late la- 

 mented Captain Parker, who fell at the Sulina mouth of the 

 Danube. I had a strong desire to follow the Zambesi farther, 

 and ascertain where this enormous body of water found its way 

 into the sea ; but on hearing from the Portuguese that he had 

 ascended to this point, and had been highly pleased with the 

 capabilities of the river, I felt sure that his valuable opinion 

 must be in possession of the Admiralty. On my arrival in 



