622 THE) ZAMBESI AT MAZARO. 



lagoons of the Leeambye in the far north, and there also 

 we met a beautiful little floating plant, the Azolla nilotica, 

 which is found in the upper Nile. They are seldom seen 

 in flowing streams. 



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

 and sailed between extensive flats. The banks seen in the 

 distance are covered with trees. We slept on a large 

 inhabited island, and then came to the entrance of the 

 river Mutu (lat. i8° 3' 37" S., long. 35 ° 46'' K) : the 

 point of departure is called Mazaro, or " mouth of the 

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

 Bardro, and their country Bororo. The whole of the 

 right bank is in subjection to the I^andeens, who, it was 

 imagined, would levy a tribute upon us, for this they are 

 accustomed to do to passengers. I regret that we did 

 not meet them, for, though they are named Caffres, 

 I am not sure whether they are of the Zulu family 

 or of the Mashona. I should have liked to form their 

 acquaintance, and to learn what they really think of 

 white men. I understood from Sekwebu, and from one of 

 Changamera's people who lives at L,inyanti, and was 

 present at the attack on Senna, that they consider the 

 whites as a conquered tribe. 



The Zambesi at Mazaro is a magnificent river, more 

 than half a mile wide and without islands. The opposite 

 bank is covered with forests of fine timber ; but the delta 

 which begins here, is only an immense flat covered with 

 high coarse grass and reeds, with here and there a few 

 mango and cocoa-nut trees. This was the point which was 

 reached by the late lamented Captain Parker, who fell at 

 the Sulina mouth of the Danube. I had a strong desire to 

 follow the Zambesi further, and ascertain where this 

 enormous body of water found its way into the sea ; but, 

 on hearing from the Portuguese that he had ascended to 

 this point and had been highly pleased with the capa- 

 bilities of the river, I felt sure that his valuable opinion 

 must be in possession of the Admiralty. On my arrival 

 in England I applied to Captain Washington, Hydro- 

 grapher to the Admiralty, and he promptly furnished the 

 document for publication by the Royal Geographical 

 Society. 



The river between Mazaro and the sea must, therefore, be 

 judged of from the testimony of one more competent to 

 decide on its merits than a mere landsman like myself. 



