594 £ 12 SEAM OF COAI,. 



performed that experiment, and was now cooked. The 

 stones over which the water flows are encrusted with a 

 white salt, and the water has a saline taste. The ground 

 has been dug out near the fountain by the natives, in 

 order to extract the salt it contains. It is situated among 

 rocks of syenitic porphyry in broad dykes, and gneiss 

 tilted on edge, and having a strike to the N.K. There 

 are many specimens of half- formed pumice, with green- 

 stone and lava. Some of the sandstone strata are dis- 

 located by a hornblende rock and by basalt ; the sandstone 

 nearest to the basalt being converted into quartz. 



The country around, as indeed all the district lying N. 

 and N.W. of Tete, is hilly, and, the hills being covered 

 with trees, the scenery is very picturesque. The soil of 

 the valleys is very fruitful and well cultivated. There 

 would not be much difficulty in working the coal. The 

 L<ofuba is about 60 yards broad ; it flows perennially, 

 and at its very lowest period, which is after September, 

 there is water about 18 inches deep, which could be 

 navigated in flat-bottomed boats. At the time of my visit 

 it was full, and the current was very strong. If the small 

 cataract referred to were to be avoided, the land-carriage 

 beyond would only be about two miles. The other seams 

 further up the river may, after passing the cataract, be 

 approached more easily than that in the Muatize ; as the 

 seam, however, dips down into the stream, no drainage of 

 the mine would be required, for if water were come to, it 

 would run into the stream. I did not visit the others, 

 but I was informed that there are seams in the indepen- 

 dent native territory, as well as in that of the Portuguese. 

 That in the Nake is in the Banyai country, and indeed I 

 have no doubt but that the whole country between Zumbo 

 and Lupata is a coalfield of at least 2,\° of latitude in 

 breadth, having many faults, made during the time of 

 the igneous action. The grey sandstone rock having 

 silicified trees lying on it, is of these dimensions. The plan- 

 tation in which the seam of coal exists, would be valued 

 among the Portuguese at about 60 dollars or ^12, but 

 much more would probably be asked if a wealthy pur- 

 chaser appeared. They could not, however, raise the 

 price very much higher, because estates containing coal 

 might be had from the native owners at a much cheaper 

 rate. The wages of free labourers, when employed in 

 such work as gold- washing, agriculture, or digging coal, 



