Chap. XXXIL THE QUILIMANE AND ZAMBESI. 6G5 



England I applied to Captain Washington, Hydrographer to the 

 Admiralty, and he promptly furnished the document for publi- 

 cation by the Eoyal Geographical Society. 



The river between Mazaro and the sea must, therefore, be 

 judged of from the testimony of one more competent to decide 

 on its merits than a mere landsman like myself. 



On the Quilimane and Zambesi Rivers. From the Journal of 

 the late Capt. Hyde Pakker, R.N., KM. Brig " Pantaloon." 



" The Liiabo is the main outlet of the Great Zambesi. In the 

 rainy season — January and February principally — the whole 

 country is overflowed, and the water escapes by the different 

 rivers as far up as Quilimane ; but in the dry season neither 

 Quilimane nor Olinda communicates with it. The position of 

 the river is rather incorrect in the Admiralty chart, being six 

 miles too much to the southward and also considerably to the 

 westward. Indeed, the coast from here up to Tongamiara seems 

 too far to the westward. The entrance to the Luabo river is 

 about two miles broad, and is easily distinguishable, when 

 abreast of it, by a bluff (if I may so term it) of high straight 

 trees, very close together, on the western side of the entrance. 

 The bar may be said to be formed by two series of sandbanks, — 

 that running from the eastern point runs diagonally across 

 (opposite?) the entrance and nearly across it. Its western 

 extremity is about two miles outside the west point. 



" The bank running out from the west point projects to the 

 southward three miles and a half, passing not one quarter of a 

 mile from the eastern or cross bank. This narrow passage is 

 the bar passage. It breaks completely across at low water, 

 except under very extraordinary circumstances. At this time — 

 low water — a great portion of the banks are uncovered ; in some 

 places they are seven or eight feet above water. 



" On these banks there is a break at all times, but in fine 

 weather, at high water, a boat may cross near the east point. 

 There is very little water, and, in places, a nasty race and 

 bubble, so that caution is requisite. The best directions for 

 going in over the regular bar passage, according to my expe- 

 rience, are as follows : — Steer down well to the eastward of the 

 bar passage, so as to avoid the outer part of the western shoals, 



