Chap. XXXh THE ZANGWE— THE SHIKE. 423 



tors; and there is, according to the Portuguese, a small tribe 

 of Arabs there, who have become completely like the other 

 natives. Two rivers, the Motirikwe and Sabia, or Sabe, rue 

 through their country into the sea. 



On the 11th of May the whole of the inhabitants of Senna, 

 with the Commandant, accompanied us to the boats. A vene- 

 rable old man, son of a judge, said they were in much sorrow 

 on account of the miserable state of decay into which they 

 had sunk, and of the insolent conduct of the people of Kisaka, 

 now in the village. We were abundantly supplied with pro- 

 visions by the Commandant, and sailed pleasantly down the 

 broad river. About thirty miles below Senna we passed the 

 mouth of the river Zangwe on our right ; and about five miles 

 farther on our left the mouth of the Shire, which seemed to be 

 about 200 yards broad. In passing it we observed great 

 quantities of the plant Alfacinya, probably the Pistia stratiotes, 

 a gigantic " duck-weed," floating down into the Zambesi. Lt 

 was mixed with quantities of another aquatic plant, probably 

 a species of Trapa, which the Barotse named " Njefu," con- 

 taining in the petiole of the leaf a pleasant-tasted nut. This 

 was so esteemed by Sebituane that he made it part of his 

 tribute from the subjected tribes. The existence of these 

 plants in such abundance shows that the Shire flows from large 

 collections of still water, as we found them growing in all the 

 still branches and lagoons of the Leeambye in the far north. 

 While at Tete I was informed that the Shire issues from the 

 southern extremity of the lake Nyanja, and that it flows 

 through a low, flat, marshy region, occupied by a numerous 

 and brave population. The accumulation of the Alfacinya is 

 said to be so great as to obstruct navigation. The lake Nyanja 

 was reported to be forty-five days N.W. of Tete, and to be 

 surrounded by level grass-covered plains ; its width at a 

 narrow part was estimated at about 70 miles. 



A few miles beyond the Shire we left the hills entirely, and 

 sailed between extensive flats covered with trees. We slept 

 on a large inhabited island, and then came to the entrance of 

 the river Mutu. The people who live on the north are called 

 Baroro, and their country Bororo. The whole of the right 

 bank is in subjection to the Landeens, who generally levy a 

 tribute upon passengers. I regret that we did not meet them, 



