260 DISTRICT OF GOLUNGO ALTO. CifAP. XIX. 



the sub-commandants, situated in a beautiful glen, and sur- 

 rounded by plantations of bananas and manioc. The country 

 was gradually becoming more picturesque the farther we 

 proceeded west. The lofty blue mountain-ranges of Libollo, 

 which we had seen in coming to Ambaca thirty or forty 

 miles to the south, were now shut out from view by others 

 nearer at hand, and the grey ranges of Cahenda and Kiwe 

 were now close upon our right. As we looked back towards 

 Ambaca the undulating plains seemed surrounded on all 

 sides by rugged mountains, and as we went westward we 

 were entering upon a wild-looking mountainous district called 

 Golungo Alto. 



We met numbers of Mambari on their way back to Bihe, 

 some of whom had penetrated as far as Linyanti, and now 

 showed a foolish displeasure at the prospect of the Makololo 

 trading to the coast markets themselves, instead of intrusting 

 them with their ivory. The Mambari repeated the tale of the 

 mode in which the white men are said to trade. " The ivory 

 is left on the shore in the evening, and next morning the 

 seller finds a quantity of goods placed there in its stead by 

 the white men who live in the sea." " Now," added they to 

 my men, " bow can you Makololo trade with these ' Mermen ' ? 

 Can you enter into the sea, and tell them to come ashore ? " 

 My men replied that they only wanted to see for themselves ; 

 and as they were now getting some idea of the nature of the 

 trade, they were highly amused on perceiving the reasons why 

 the Mambari would rather have met them on the Zambesi 

 than so near the sea-coast. 



There is something so exhilarating to one of Highland 

 blood in the proximity of high mountains, that I forgot my 

 fever as we wended our way among the lofty masses of mica 

 schist which form the highlands around the romantic resi- 

 dence of the Commandant of Golungo Alto. (Lat. 9° 8' 30" S., 

 long. 15° 2' E.) The whole district is extremely beautiful 

 and of unrivalled fertility. The hills are bedecked with 

 trees of various hues, among which towers the graceful palm, 

 whence are obtained the oil of commerce for making our soaps, 

 and the intoxicating toddy. Some clusters of hills look like 

 crested waves, driven into a narrow open bay, and there 

 suddenly congealed. The cottages of the natives, perched on 



