Chap. XXXII. WAR-DRUM AT SH1RAMBA. 657 



in a small flat-bottomed steamer during the whole year as far as 

 Tete. At this time, a steamer of large size could have floated 

 easily. The river was measured at the latter place by the 

 Portuguese, and found by them to be 1050 yards broad. The 

 body of water flowing past when I was there was very great, and 

 the breadth it occupied when amongst the islands, had a most 

 imposing effect. I could not get a glimpse of either shore. All 

 the right bank beyond Lupata is low and flat : on the north, the 

 ranges of hills and dark lines below them are seen, but from the 

 boat it is impossible to see the shore. I only guess the breadth 

 of the river to be two miles, it is probably more. Next day we 

 landed at Shiramba for breakfast, having sailed 8i hours from 

 Lupata. This was once the residence of a Portuguese brigadier, 

 who spent large sums of money in embellishing his house and 

 gardens : these we found in entire ruin, as his half-caste son had 

 destroyed all and then rebelled against the Portuguese, but with 

 less success than either Nyaude or Kisaka, for he had been seized 

 and sent a prisoner to Mozambique a short time before our visit. 

 All the southern shore has been ravaged by the Caffres, who are 

 here named Landeens, and most of the inhabitants who remain, 

 acknowledge the authority of Bonga and not of the Portuguese. 

 When at breakfast, the people of Shiramba commenced beating 

 the drum of war. Lieutenant Miranda, who was well acquainted 

 with the customs of the country, immediately started to his feet, 

 and got all the soldiers of our party under arms : he then 

 demanded of the natives why the druni was beaten while we were 

 there. They gave an evasive reply; and as they employ this 

 means of collecting their neighbours when they intend to rob 

 canoes, our watchfulness may have prevented then proceeding 

 further. 



We spent the night of the 26th on the island called Nkuesi, 

 opposite a remarkable saddle-shaped mountain, and found that 

 we were just on the 17th parallel of latitude. The sail down the 

 river was veiy fine ; the temperature becoming low, it was pleasant 

 to the feelings ; but the shores being flat and far from us, the 

 scenery was uninteresting. We breakfasted on the 27th at Pita, 

 and found some half-caste Portuguese had established themselves 

 there, after fleeing from the opposite bank to escape Kisaka's 

 people, who were now ravaging all the Maganja country. On the 



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