150 NAVIGATION OF THE LEEAMBYB. 
now aro, down to Mosioatunya, there are many long 
reaches, whore a vessel equal to the Thames steamers ply- 
ing between the bridges could run as freely as they do on 
the Thames. It is often, even hero, as broad as that river 
at London Bridge; but, without accurate measurement of 
the depth, one could not say which contained most water. 
There aro, however, many and serious obstacles to a con 
tinued navigation for hundreds of miles at a stretch. 
About ten miles below the confluence of the Locti, for in- 
stance, thcro aro many large sand-hanks in the stream; thon 
you havo a hundred miles to the river Simah, whero a 
Thames steamer could ply at all times of the year ; but, 
again, the space between Simah and Katima-mololo has fivo 
or six rapids with cataracts, one of which — Gonyc — could 
not be passed at any time without portago. Botwcon 
those rapids thcro aro reaches of still, deep water, of 
soveral miles in length. Beyond Katima-molelo to tho 
confluence of the Chobo you havo nearly a hundred milos, 
again, of a river capablo of being navigated in tho samo 
way as in the Barotse valley. 
Now, I do not say that this part of the river prosents a 
very inviting prospect for extemporaneous European enter- 
prise; but when wo havo a pathway which requires only 
tho formation of portages to mako it equal to our canals 
for hundreds of miles, whore tho philosophers supposod 
thoro was naught but an extensive sandy desert, wo must 
confess that the future partakes at least of tho elements 
of hopo. My deliberate conviction was and is that tho 
part of tho country indicated is as capablo of supporting 
millions of inhabitants as it is of its thousands. Tho grass 
of tbo Barotso valley, for instance, is such a densely-matted 
mass, that, when “laid,” tho stalks boar each other up, so 
that ono feels as if walking on tho shcavos of a haystack, 
and tho leches nestle under it to bring forth their young 
Tho soil which produces this, if placed undor tho plough, 
instead of boing more pasturago, would yiold grain au© 
cient to food vast multitudes. 
