Chap. XXIX. EXPEDITIONS TO CAZEMBE. 383 



ably chosen as the site of a commercial settlement. The 

 merchants, as they sat beneath the verandahs in front of their 

 houses, had a magnificent view of the two rivers at their 

 confluence, the church at the angle, and the gardens which 

 they had on both sides of the rivers. Towards the north 

 and west the view is bounded by lofty and picturesque 

 mountains, while towards the south-east the eye ranges over 

 an open country. Water communication exists in three di- 

 rections beyond — namely, by the Loangwa to the N.W., by 

 the Kafue to the W., and by the Zambesi to the S.W. The 

 attention of the merchants, however, was chiefly attracted to 

 the N. or Londa ; and the principal articles of trade were 

 ivory and slaves. Private enterprise was always restrained, 

 for the colonies of the Portuguese being strictly military, 

 and the pay of the commandants very small, the officers have 

 always been obliged to engage in trade; and had they not 

 kept the private traders under their control, they would have 

 had no trade themselves, as they were obliged always to 

 remain at their posts. 



Several expeditions went northwards as far as Cazembe ; 

 Dr. Lacerda himself, Commandant of Tete, was unfortunately 

 cut off while there, and his papers were lost to the world. 

 He had a strong desire to open up communication with Angola, 

 which would have been of importance then, as affording a 

 speedier mode of communication with Portugal than by the 

 way of the Cape ; but since the opening of the overland 

 passage to India a quicker transit is effected from Eastern 

 Africa to Lisbon by way of the Eed Sea. Peirara, who sub- 

 sequently visited Cazembe, gave a glowing account of that 

 chief's power, which none of my inquiries have confirmed. 

 The people of Matiamvo stated to me that Cazembe was a 

 vassal of their chief ; and, from all the native visitors whom 

 I have seen, he appears to be exactly like Shinte and Katema, 

 only a little more powerful. The term " Emperor/' which has 

 been applied to him, seems totally inappropriate. The state- 

 ment of Peirara that twenty negroes were slaughtered in a 

 day was not confirmed by any one else, though numbers may 

 have been killed on some particular occasion during the time 

 of his visit, for we find throughout all the country north of 20° 

 the custom of slaughtering victims to accompany the departed 



