Chap. XXXII. LIEUTENANT HOSKINS' REMARKS. 6G9 



passage, there is never less than four feet (I having crossed it 

 at dead low- water — springs), this would give an average depth 

 sufficient for any commercial purposes. The rise and fall is six 

 feet greater, the passages narrower and more defined, conse- 

 quently deeper and more easily found than that of the Quilimane 

 river. The river above the bar is very tortuous, but deep ; and 

 it is observable that the influence of the tide is felt much higher 

 in this branch than in the others ; for whereas in the Catrina 

 and Cumana I have obtained drinkable water a very short dis- 

 tance from the mouth, in the Luabo I have ascended 70 miles 

 without finding the saltness perceptibly diminished. This would 

 facilitate navigation, and I have no hesitation in saying that 

 little difficulty would be experienced in conveying a steam- vessel 

 of the size and capabilities of the gunboat I lately commanded 

 as high as the branching off of the Quilimane river (Mazaro), 

 which, in the dry season, is observed many yards above the 

 Luabo (main stream) ; though I have been told by the Portu- 

 guese that the freshes which come down in December and March 

 fill it temporarily. These freshes deepen the river considerably 

 at that time of the year, and freshen the Mater many miles from 

 the coast. The population of the delta, except in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of the Portuguese, appeared to be very sparse. 

 Antelopes and hippopotami were plentiful ; the former tame and 

 easily shot. I inquired frequently of both natives and Portu- 

 guese, if slavers were in the habit of entering there to ship their 

 cargoes, but could not ascertain that they have ever done so in 

 any excej)t the Quilimane. With common precaution the rivers 

 are not unhealthy ; for, during the whole time I was employed 

 in them (off and on during eighteen months), in open boats and 

 at all times of the year, frequently absent from the ship for a 

 month or six weeks at a time, I had not, in my boat's crew of 

 fourteen men, more than two, and those mild, cases of fever. 

 Too much importance cannot be ascribed to the use of quinine, 

 to which I attribute our comparative immunity, and with winch 

 our judicious commander, Commodore Wyvill, kept us amply 

 supplied. I hope these few remarks may be of some little use 

 in confirming your views of the utility of that magnificent river. 



"A. H. H. Hoskins." 



