Chap. XXIX. LACEBDA'S VISIT TO CAZEMBE. 587 



houses, had a magnificent view of the two rivers at then* conflu- 

 ence ; of then- church at the angle ; and of all the gardens which 

 they had on both sides of the rivers. In these they cultivated 

 wheat without irrigation, and, as the Portuguese assert, of a grain 

 twice the size of that at Tete. From the guides we learnt that 

 the inhabitants had not imbibed much idea of Christianity, for 

 they used the same term for the church bell which they did for 

 a diviner's drum. From this point the merchants had water 

 co mm unication in three directions beyond — namely, from the 

 Loangwa to the N.N.W., by the Kafue to the W., and by the Zam- 

 besi to the S.W. Their attention, however, was chiefly attracted 

 to the N. or Londa ; and the principal articles of trade were ivory 

 and slaves. Private enterprise was always restrained, for the 

 colonies of the Portuguese being strictly military, and the pay of 

 the commandants being very small, the officers have always been 

 obliged to engage in trade ; and had they not employed then- 

 power to draw the trade to themselves, by preventing private 

 traders from making bargains beyond the villages, and only at 

 regulated prices, they would have had no trade, as they themselves 

 were obliged to remain always at their posts. 



Several expeditions went to the north as far as to Cazembe, and 

 Dr. Lacerda, himself Commandant of Tete, went to that chief's 

 residence. Unfortunately he was cut off while there, and his 

 papers, taken possession of by a Jesuit who accompanied him, were 

 lost to the world. This Jesuit probably intended to act fairly and 

 have them published; but soon after his return he was called 

 away by death himself, and the papers were lost sight of. Dr. 

 Lacerda had a strong desire to open up communication with 

 Angola, which would have been of importance then, as affording 

 a speedier mode of communication with Portugal than by the way 

 of the Cape ; but since the opening of the overland passage to 

 India, a quicker transit is effected from Eastern Africa to Lisbon 

 by way of the Eed Sea. Besides Lacerda, Cazembe was visited 

 by Peirara, who gave a glowing account of that chiefs power, 

 which none of my inquiries have confirmed. The people of 

 Matiamvo stated to me that Cazembe was a vassal of their chief; 

 and, from all the native visitors whom I have seen, he appears to 

 be exactly like Shinte and Katema, only a little more powerful. 

 The term " Emperor," winch has been applied to him, seems totally 



