GREAT CENTRAL PLATE A U. 1 3 



present moment. The only other means of conveyance 

 we had was ox-back, by no means a comfortable mode of 

 travelling. I therefore came back to discover another 

 route to the coast by means of the river Zambesi 1 . 



The same system of inundation that distinguishes the 

 Nile, is also effected by this river, and the valley of the 

 Barotse is exceedingly like the valley of the Nile between 

 Cairo and Alexandria. The inundations of the Zambesi, 

 however, cause no muddy sediment like those of the Nile, 

 and, only that there are no snow-mountains, would convey 

 the impression that the inundations were the result of 

 the melting of snow from adjoining hills. The face of 

 the country presents no such features, but elevated plains, 

 so level that rain-water stands for months together upon 

 them. The water does not flow off, but gradually soaks 

 into the soil, and then oozes out in bogs, in which all the 

 rivers take their rise. They have two rainy seasons in 

 the year, and consequently two periods of inundation. 

 The reason why the water remains so clear is this ; the 

 country is covered by such a mass of vegetation that the 

 water flows over the grass, &c, without disturbing the 

 soil beneath. 



There is a large central district containing a large 

 lake formed by the course of the Zambesi, to explore 

 which would be well worthy of the attention of any in- 

 dividual wishing to distinguish himself. 



Having got down amongst the people in the middle 



1 For an account of this river see Appendix, p. 67. 



