ISLANDS OF THE SHIEE. 377 



a range is of the old crystalline rocks or not. The Borassus, 

 though not an oil-bearing palm, is a useful tree. The fibrous 

 pulp, round the large nuts, is of a sweet, fruity taste, and is 

 eaten by men and elephants. The natives bury the nuts until 

 the kernels begin to sprout ; when dug up and broken, the in- 

 side resembles coarse potatoes, and is prized in times of scarcity 

 as nutritious food. During several months of the year palm- 

 "wine, or sura, is obtained in large quantities ; when fresh, it is a 

 pleasant drink, somewhat like champagne, and not at all intoxi- 

 cating ; though, after standing a few hours, it becomes highly so. 

 Sticks, a foot long, are driven into notches in the hard outside 

 of the tree — the inside being soft or hollow — to serve as a ladder; 

 the top of the fruit-shoot is cut off, and the sap, pouring out at 

 the fresh -wound, is caught in an earthen pot, which is hung at 

 the point. A thin slice is taken off the end, to open the pores 

 and make the juice flow every time the owner ascends to empty 

 the pot. Temporary huts are erected in the forest, and men and 

 boys remain by their respective trees day and night; the nuts, 

 fish, and wine being their sole food. The Portuguese use the 

 palm-wine as yeast, and it makes bread so light that it melts in 

 the mouth like froth. 



"Above the palm-trees, a succession of rich, low islands stud 

 the river. Many of them are cultivated and grow maize at all 

 times of the year, for we saw it in different stages of growth ; 

 some patches ripe, and others half-grown, or just sprouting out 

 of the ground. The shores are adorned with rows of banana- 

 trees, and the fruit is abundant and cheap. Many of the reedy 

 banks are so intertwined with convolvulus, and other creepers, 

 as to be absolutely impenetrable. They are beautiful to the 

 eye, a smooth wall of living green rising out of the crystal 

 water, and adorned with lovely flowers ; but so dense that, if 

 capsized in the water, one could scarcely pass through to land." 



The village of Mankokwe, an unhappy, suspicious man, who 

 divides the paramount dignity of the section with Tingane, offered 

 no hospitality, and, sailing by the confluence of the Moanza, the 

 expedition cast anchor opposite the village of Chibisa. This 

 village, on the southern bank of the river, ci'owns a perpendicular 

 bluff of stratified sand, quite sixty feet high, and covered with 

 verdure. From this elevated spot the view commanded extorted 



