578 DEATH OF MARIANO. Chap. XXVIII. 



Mariano died, from the effects of debauchery, while we were 

 coining down the Shire. His sad career affords another 

 illustration of that system which, whether in African or half 

 European hands, obstructs the prosperity of this country. 

 We must say that, notwithstanding all the mismanagement 

 and injustice with which the French and English stand 

 chargeable in their treatment of barbarians, the commercial 

 results of their enterprises are usually appreciable ; while the 

 total exports from the port of Quillimane, which is the trade 

 outlet of the Zambesi, yield an annual revenue of about half 

 the amount of the Governor's salary ! 



After a hurried visit to Senna, in order to settle with Major 

 Sicard and Senhor Ferrao for supplies we had drawn thence 

 after the depopulation of the Shire, we proceeded down to the 

 Zambesi's mouth, and were fortunate in meeting, on the 13th 

 February, with H.M.S. Orestes. She was joined next day 

 by H.M.S. Ariel. The Orestes took the Pioneer, and the 

 Ariel the Lady Nyassa in tow, for Mosambique. On the 16th 

 a circular storm proved the sea-going qualities of the " Lady 

 of the Lake ;" for on this clay a hurricane struck the Ariel, and 

 drove her nearly backwards at a rate of six knots. The towing 

 hawser wound round her screw and stopped her engines. No 

 sooner had she recovered from this shock than she was again 

 taken aback on the other tack, and driven stem on towards 

 the Lady Nyassa's broadside. We who were on board the 

 little vessel saw no chance of escape unless the crew of the 

 Ariel should think of heaving ropes when the big ship went 

 over us ; but she glided past our bow, and we breathed freely 

 again. We had now an opportunity of witnessing man-of-war- 

 seamanship. Captain Chapman, though his engines were dis- 

 abled, did not think of abandoning us in the heavy gale, 

 but crossed the bows of the Lady Nyassa again and again, 

 dropping a cask with a line by which to give us another 



