6l8 THE COUNTRY ROUND SENNA. 



the island of Maderia or the Azores, in order to increase the 

 Portuguese population in Africa, is impolitic. Taxes 

 would also be levied on the minerals exported. It is 

 noticeable that all the companies which have been pro- 

 posed in Portugal have this put prominently in the pre- 

 amble, " and for the abolition of the inhuman slave- 

 trade." This shows, either that the statesmen in Por- 

 tugal are enlightened and philanthropic, or it may be 

 meant as a trap for English capitalists ; I incline to 

 believe the former. If the Portuguese really wish to 

 develop the resources of the rich country beyond their 

 possessions, they ought to invite the co-operation of other 

 nations on equal terms with themselves. I v et the pathway 

 into the interior be free to all ; and, instead of wretched 

 forts, with scarcely an acre of land around them which 

 can be called their own, let real colonies be made. If, 

 instead of military establishments, we had civil ones, 

 and saw emigrants going out with their wives, ploughs, 

 and seeds, rather than military convicts with bugles and 

 kettle-drums, we might hope for a return of prosperity to 

 Bastern Africa. 



The village of Senna stands on the right bank of the 

 Zambesi. There are many reedy islands in front of it, 

 and there is much bush in the country adj acent. The soil 

 is fertile ; but the village, being in a state of ruin, and 

 having several pools of stagnant water, is very unhealthy. 

 The bottom rock is the akose of Brongniart, or granitic 

 grit, and several conical hills of trap have burst through 

 it. One standing about half a mile west of the village is 

 called Baramuana, which has another behind it ; hence 

 the name, which means " carry a child on the back." It 

 is 300 or 400 feet high, and on the top lie two dismounted 

 cannon, which were used to frighten aw 7 ay the Landeens, 

 who in one attack upon Senna killed 1 50 of the inhabitants. 

 The prospect from Baramuana is very fine ; below, on the 

 eastward, lies the Zambesi, with the village of Senna ; 

 and some twenty or thirty miles beyond stands the lofty 

 mountain Morumbala, probably 3000 or 4000 feet high. 

 It is of an oblong shape, and from its physiognomy, which 

 can be distinctly seen when the sun is in the west, is 

 evidently igneous. On the northern end there is a hot 

 sulphurous fountain, wilich my Portuguese friends refused 

 to allow r me to visit, because the mountain is well peopled, 

 and the mountaineers are at present not friendly with the 



