442 REGION EAST OF I,ONDA. 



causes the periodical inundations of the Nile. The two 

 rivers rise in the same region ; but there is a difference 

 in the period of flood, possibly from their being on opposite 

 sides of the equator. The waters of the Nile are said to 

 become turbid in June ; and the flood attains its greatest 

 height in August, or the period when we may suppose 

 the supersaturation to occur. The subject is worthy the 

 Investigation of those who may examine the region 

 between the equator and io° S. ; for the Nile does not show 

 much increase when the sun is at its furthest point north, 

 or tropic of Cancer, but at the time of its returning to 

 the equator, exactly as in the other case when he is on 

 Capricorn, and the Zambesi is affected.* 



From information derived from Arabs of Zanzibar, 

 whom I met at Naliele in the middle of the country, the 

 region to the east of the parts of Londa over which we have 

 travelled, resembles them in its conformation. They 

 report swampy steppes, some of which have no trees, 

 where the inhabitants use grass, and stalks of native corn, 

 for fuel. A large shallow lake is also pointed out in that 

 direction, named Tanganyenka, which requires three 

 days for crossing in canoes. It is connected with another 

 named Kalagwe (Garague ?), farther north, and may be 

 the Nyanja of the Maravim. From this lake is derived, 

 by numerous small streams, the river Loapula, the eastern 

 branch of the Zambesi, which, coming from the N.E., 

 flows past the town of Cazembe. 



* The above is from my own observation, together with informa- 

 tion derived from the Portuguese in the interior of Angola ; and I 

 may add that the result of many years' observation by Messrs. Gabriel 

 and Brand at Loanda, on the west coast, is in accordance therewith. 

 It rains there between the 1st and 30th of November, but January and 

 December are usually both warm and dry. The heavier rains com- 

 mence about the 1st of February, and last until the 15th of May. 

 Then no rain falls between the 20th of May and the 1st of November. 

 The rain averages from 12 to 15 inches per annum. In 1852 it was 

 12,034 inches; in 1853, 15,473 inches. Although I had no means of 

 measuring the amount of rain which fell in Londa, I feel certain that 

 the annual quantity exceeds very much that which falls on the coast, 

 because for a long time we noticed that every dawn was marked by a 

 deluging shower, which began without warning-drops or thunder. I 

 observed that the rain ceased suddenly on the 28th of April, and the 

 lesser rains commenced about a fortnight before the beginning of 

 November. 



