Chap. XXXI. IDEAS OF A SUPREME BEING. 041 



little below Senna. The Shire is named Shirwa at its point of 

 departure from the lake, and Senhor Candido was informed, when 

 there, that the lake was simply an expansion of the river Nyanja, 

 which comes from the north and encircles the mountain Mu- 

 rombo, the meaning of which is junction or union, in reference to 

 the water having parted at its northern extremity, and united 

 again at its southern. The Shire flows through a low, flat, marshy 

 country, but abounding in population, and they are said to be 

 brave. The Portuguese are unable to navigate the Slnre up to 

 the lake Nyanja, because of the great abundance of a water-plant 

 which requires no soil, and which they name " alfacinya " (Pistia 

 stratiotes), from its resemblance to a lettuce. This completely 

 obstructs the progress of canoes. In confirmation of this I may 

 state that, when I passed the mouth of the Shire, great quantities 

 of tin's same plant were floating from it into the Zambesi, and 

 many parts of the banks below were covered with the dead plants. 



Senhor Candido stated that slight earthquakes have happened 

 several times in the country of the Maravi, and at no great dis- 

 tance from Tete. The motion seems to come from the eastward, 

 and never to have lasted more than a few seconds. They are 

 named in the Maravi tongue "shiwo," and in that of the peojjle 

 of Tete " shitakote'ko," or " shivering" This agrees exactly with 

 what has taken place in the coast of Mozambique — a few slight 

 shocks of short duration, and all appearing to come from the east. 

 At Senna, too, a single shock has been felt several times, which 

 shook the doors and windows and made the glasses jingle. 

 Both Tete and Senna have hot springs in their vicinity, but the 

 shocks seemed to come not from them, but from the east and 

 proceed to the west. They are probably connected with the 

 active volcanoes in the island of Bourbon. 



As Senhor Candido holds the office of judge in all the disputes 

 of the natives and knows their language perfectly, his statement 

 may be relied on that all the natives of this region have a clear 

 idea of a Supreme Being, the maker and governor of all things. 

 He is named " Morimo," " Molungo," "Reza," "Mpambe," in 

 the different dialects spoken. The Barotse name him " Nyampi," 

 and the Balonda " Zambi." All promptly acknowledge him as 

 the ruler over all. They also fully believe in the soul's continued 

 existence apart from the body, and visit the graves of relatives, 



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