36 INDUSTRY OF THE NATIVES. Chap. I. 



master is, that they lean on him as a patriarchal chief, and he 

 has the satisfaction of settling their differences, and of saving 

 their lives in seasons of drought and scarcity. His father, a 

 man of superior attainments, was formerly the Portuguese 

 governor of Senna, and acquired a vast tract of rich country 

 to the southward, called Chiringoma, in a most honourable 

 manner ; but the Government ordered it to be split up, and 

 reserved two leagues only for the heir, apportioning the rest 

 in free grants to emigrants ; the reason assigned for the 

 robbery, was that " It would never do for a subject to possess 

 more land than the crown of Portugal." The Landeens soon 

 followed, took possession of the whole, and spoiled the spoilers. 

 Senhor Ferrao received us with his usual kindness, and gave 

 us a bountiful breakfast. During the day the principal men 

 of the place called, and were unanimously of opinion that the 

 free natives would willingly cultivate large quantities of 

 cotton, could they find purchasers. They had in former times 

 exported largely both cotton and cloth to Manica and even to 

 Brazil. " On their own soil," they declared, "the natives are 

 willing to labour and trade, provided only they can do so to 

 advantage : when it is for their interest, blacks work very 

 hard." We often remarked subsequently that this was the 

 opinion of men of energy ; and that all settlers of activity, 

 enterprise, and sober habits had become rich, while those who 

 Avere much addicted to lying on their backs smoking inva- 

 riably complained of the laziness of the negroes, and were poor, 

 proud, and despicable. We dined with another very honourable 

 Portuguese, Major Tito A. d'A. Sicard, who quoted the common 

 remark that Dr. Livingstone's discovery of the Kongone Bar 

 had ruined Quillimane ; for the Government had proposed 

 to abandon that fever-haunted locality, and to found a new 

 town at the mouth of the Kongone. It was not then known 



