Chap. I. THE EIVER LUAWE. 15 



sticks, and leaves, — and even under floating cuttlefish bones 

 and Portuguese " men-of-war " (Physalia), numbers of small 

 fish screen themselves from the eyes of birds of prey, and 

 from the rays of the torrid sun. 



The coast is low and covered with mangrove swamps, 

 among which are sandy patches clothed with grass, creeping 

 plants, and stunted palms. The land trends nearly east and 

 west, without any notable feature to guide the navigator, 

 and it is difficult to make out the river's mouth; but the 

 water shoals gradually, and each fathom of lessening depth 

 marks about a mile. 



We entered the Eiver Luawe first, because its entrauce 

 is so smooth and deep, that the "Pearl," drawing 9 feet 7 

 inches, went in without a boat sounding ahead. A small 

 steam launch having been brought out from England in 

 three sections on the deck of the "Pearl" was hoisted out 

 and screwed together at the anchorage, and with her aid 

 the exploration was commenced. She was called the " Ma 

 Eobert," after Mrs. Livingstone, to whom the natives, accord- 

 ing to their custom, gave the name Ma (mother) of her 

 eldest son. The harbour is deep, but shut in by mangrove 

 swamps ; and though the water a few miles up is fresh, it 

 is only a tidal river ; for, after ascending some seventy miles, 

 it was found to end in marshes blocked up with reeds and 

 succulent aquatic plants. As the Luawe had been called 

 " West Luabo," it was supposed to be a branch of the Zam- 

 besi, the main stream of which is called " Luabo," or " East 

 Luabo." The " Ma Eobert" and " Pearl" then went to what 

 proved to be a real mouth of the river we sought. 



The Zambesi pours its water into the ocean by four 

 mouths, namely, the Milambe, which is the most westerly 

 the Kongone, the Luabo, and the Timbwe (or Muselo). 



