340 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
accordingly, penetrated beyond Leetakoo ; and a 
letter, dated the 21st of December 1808, was re- 
ceived from Dr Cowan, * who was then at the resi- 
dence of Makkrakka, a chief who had separated 
from the king of Leetakoo, They svere in about 
24° S. lat. which would make them nearly eleven 
days' journey beyond that city. The country was 
described as more rich and beautiful than any they 
had yet seen in Southern Africa ; it was watered 
by the river Meloppo, which rose out of a large 
lake, and flowed in a north-west direction. Nothing 
could exceed the kindness which they experienced 
from Makkrakka, who even sent his brother to in- 
troduce them to the Wanketchies, the tribe whom 
they were next to visit. Unfavourable rumours, 
however, arising, Lord Caledon sent a vessel to 
Sofala, to make every possible inquiry. The intel- 
ligence there received was, that, the travellers hav- 
ing arrived in the dominions of the king of Zaire, 
between Inhambane and Sofala, that prince made 
a demand of one of the boat-shaped waggons in 
which they conveyed their baggage ; — that this be- 
ing refused, he set upon them in the night, and 
cut the whole party to pieces, except two, who es- 
caped. The governor of Mosambique, having sent 
some trusty negroes up the country, received near- 
ly the same information. 
* Quart. Rev. July 1815. 
