70 REVISIT KEBRABASA. • Chap. in. 



very accurate on anything but ivory, and they have in this 

 case trusted to memory alone. The only fluviometer at Tette, 

 or anywhere else on the river, was set up at our suggestion ; 

 and the first flood was at its greatest height of thirteen feet 

 six inches on the 17th January, 1859, and then gradually fell 

 a few feet, until succeeded by the greater flood of March. 

 The river rises suddenly, the water is highly discoloured and 

 impure, and there is a four-knot current in many places ; 

 but in a day or two after the first rush of waters is passed, 

 the current becomes more equally spread over the whole 

 bed of the river, and resumes its usual rate in the channel, 

 although continuing in flood. The Zambesi water at other 

 times is almost chemically pure, and the photographer would 

 find that it is nearly as good as distilled water for the nitrate 

 of silver bath. 



A third visit to Kebrabasa was made for the pur- 

 pose of ascertaining whether it might be navigable when 

 the Zambesi was in flood, the chief point of interest being 

 of course Morumbwa; it was found that the rapids ob- 

 served in our first trip had disappeared, and that while 

 they were smoothed over, in a few places the current had in- 

 creased in strength. As the river fell rapidly while we were 

 on the journey, the cataract of Morumbwa did not differ 

 materially from what it was when discovered. Some fisher- 

 men assured us that it was not visible when the river was 

 at its fullest, and that the current was then not very strong. 

 On this occasion we travelled on the right bank, and found 

 it, with the additional inconvenience of rain, as rough and 

 fatiguing as the left had been. Our progress was impeded 

 by the tall wet grass and dripping boughs, and consequent 

 fever. During the earlier part of the journey we came 

 upon a few deserted hamlets only; but at last in a 



