680 VILLAGE OF KILIMANE. Chap. XXXU. 



we can conciliate the less amicable people on the river, and in- 

 troduce commerce, an effectual blow will be struck at the slave- 

 trade in that quarter. By linking the Africans there to our- 

 selves, in the manner proposed, it is hoped that their elevation 

 will eventually be the result. In this hope and proposed effort, 

 I am joined by my brother Charles, who has come from America, 

 after seventeen years' separation, for the purpose. We expect 

 success through the influence of that Spirit who already aided 

 the efforts to open the country, and who has since turned 

 the public mind towards it. A failure may be experienced by 

 sudden rash speculation, over-stocking the markets there, and 

 raising the prices against ourselves. But I propose to spend some 

 more years of labour, and shall be thankful if I see the system 

 fairly begun in an open pathway which will eventually benefit 

 both Africa and England. 



The village of Kilimane stands on a great mud bank, and is 

 surrounded by extensive swamps and rice-grounds. The banks 

 of the river are lined with mangrove-bushes, the roots of which, 

 and the slimy banks on which they grow, are alternately exposed 

 to the tide and sun. The houses are well built of brick and 

 lime ; the latter from Mozambique. If one digs down two or three 

 feet in any part of the site of the village, he comes to water : 

 hence the walls built on this mud bank gradually subside ; 

 pieces are sometimes sawn off the doors below, because the walls 

 in which they are fixed have descended into the ground, so as 

 to leave the floors higher than the bottom of the doors. It is 

 almost needless to say that Kilimane is very unhealthy. A man 

 of plethoric temperament is sure to get fever ; and, concerning a 

 stout person, one may hear the remark, " Ah ! he will not live 

 long, he is sure to die." 



A Hamburgh vessel was lost near the bar before we came 

 down. The men were much more regular in their habits than 

 English sailors, so I had an opportunity of observing the fever, 

 acting as a slow poison. They felt " out of sorts " only, but 

 gradually became pale, bloodless, and emaciated, then weaker 

 and weaker, till at last they sank more like oxen bitten by 

 tsetse than any disease I ever saw. The captain, a strong robust 

 young man, remained in perfect health for about three months, 

 but was at last knocked down suddenly, and made as helpless as 

 a child, by tins terrible disease. He had imbibed a foolish pre? 



