AFRICAN IRON. 609 



The only other metal, besides gold, we have in abund- 

 ance in this region, is iron, and that is of excellent quality. 

 In some places it is obtained from what is called the specu- 

 lar iron ore, and also from black oxide. The latter has 

 been well roasted in the operations of nature, and contains 

 a large proportion of the metal. It occurs generally in 

 tears or rounded lumps, and is but slightly magnetic. 

 When found in the beds of rivers, the natives know of its 

 existence by the quantity of oxide on the surface, and they 

 find no difficulty in digging it with pointed sticks. They 

 consider English iron as " rotten ; " and I have seen, 

 when a javelin of their own iron Ugh ted on the cranium 

 of a hippopotamus, it curled up like the proboscis of a 

 butterfly, and the owner would prepare it for future use 

 by straightening it cold with two stones. I brought home 

 some of the hoes which Sekeletu gave me to purchase a 

 canoe, also some others obtained in Kilimane, and they 

 have been found of such good quality that a friend of 

 mine in Birmingham has made an Knfield rifle of them. * 



The iron ore exists in great abundance, but I did not 

 find any limestone in its immediate vicinity. So far as 



another ordeal plant, but used to produce diaphoresis. Karumgasura : 

 also diaphoretic. Munyazi yields an oil, and is one of the ingredients 

 for curing the wounds of poisoned arrows. Uombue : a large root, 

 employed in killing fish. Kakumate : used in intermittents. Mushe- 

 teko : applied to ulcers ; and the infusion also internally in 

 amenorrhcea. Inyakanyanya : this is seen in small dark-coloured 

 crooked roots of pleasant aromatic smell and slightly bitter taste, and 

 is highly extolled in the treatment of fever ; it is found in Manica. 

 Eskinencia : used in croup and sore-throat. Itaca, or Itaka : for 

 diaphoresis in fever ; this root is brought as an article of barter by the 

 Arabs to Kilimane ; the natives purchase it eagerly. Mukundukundu : 

 a decoction used as a febrifuge in the same way as quinine ; it grows 

 plentifully at Shupanga, and the wood is used as masts for launches. 

 I may here add the recipe of Brother Pedro of Zumbo for the cure of 

 poisoned wounds, in order to show the similarity of practice among 

 the natives of the Zambesi, from whom in all probability he acquired 

 his knowledge, and the Bushmen of the Kalahari. It consists of equal 

 parts of the roots of the Calumba, Musheteko, Abutua, Batatinya, 

 Paregekanto, Itaka, or Kapande, put into a bottle and covered with 

 common castor-oil. As I have before observed, I believe the oily 

 ingredient is the effectual one, and ought to be tried by any one who 

 has the misfortune to get wounded by a Bushman's or Banyai arrow. 



* The following remarks are by a practical blacksmith, one of the 

 most experienced men in the gun trade. In this trade various qualities 



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