THROUGH ZAMBESI A. 
379 
soldiers, of whom there are very few. Strictly speaking, 
however, it depends upon the half-castes, who have in 
the course of time, and by force of circumstances, 
gathered large followings of natives, who look up to 
them as kings, and under whose banner they will fight 
and die. 
These kings are the people who hold the Zambesi. 
Without their co-operation the Portuguese could not 
hold the river for a day. At Tette the garrison is just 
sufficient for temporary defence. The most trifling cam¬ 
paign could not be prosecuted by the force. On the 
other hand, if the native force is considered we find a 
fair array. Kanyemba, the black chief at Zumbo, whose 
district extends to the northern bank of the Zambesi, has 
at least 10,000 armed men at his disposal. This body 
has been armed by the Portuguese Government, which 
has also conferred upon Kanyemba the honourable ap¬ 
pellation “ Sergento Mor.” Presents, likewise, are given 
every year to keep the people under a sense of obliga¬ 
tion to help in warfare when called upon. Lobo, another 
black chief, who married Kanyemba’s daughter, gets the 
distinction “ Capitao Mor.” He has 3000 armed men. 
Thus the Portuguese have actually armed a force suffi¬ 
cient to overwhelm them in a day. I do not prophesy 
that a massacre of this description will take place, but 
judging from present appearances the probability is 
strong — supposing that the natives think, as other 
natives have thought, of the glories of regaining their 
conquered country. 
About thirty Europeans still reside in Tette; but the 
main portion of the trade of the place is in the hands of 
three or four merchants. They complain that the tide 
of prosperity is ebbing away. The elephant has trekked 
to the far interior, carrying with him the precious ivory 
which—excepting the slave-trade—has formed the chief 
support of commerce in these parts since the conquest 
by the Portuguese. 
Thousands of native hunters still leave Tette every 
year; and with their flintlocks and spears go very far 
afield in search of the much-coveted animal. Success in 
