664 THE NJEFU — MAZAEO. Chap. XXXII. 



Europe and in India. Government derives a large revenue from 

 them in Kashmir, 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-chesnuts." 

 The existence 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 nilotica, 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 (lat. 18° 3' 37" 

 S., long. 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 imagined, 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 wlntes 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 cocoa-nut 

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

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

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

 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 



