Chap. XXXII. LIEUTENANT IIOSKINS’ REMARKS. 
6G9 
passage, there is never less than four feet (I having crossed it 
at dead low-water—springs), this would give an average depth 
sufficient for any commercial purposes. The rise and fall is six 
feet greater, the passages narrower and more defined, conse¬ 
quently deeper and more easily found than that of the Quilimane 
river. The river above the bar is very tortuous, but deep ; and 
it is observable that the influence of the tide is felt much higher 
in this branch than in the others; for whereas in the Catrina 
and Cumana I have obtained drinkable water a very short dis¬ 
tance from the mouth, in the Luabo I have ascended 70 miles 
without finding the saltness perceptibly diminished. This would 
facilitate navigation, and I have no hesitation in saying that 
little difficulty would be experienced in conveying a steam-vessel 
of the size and capabilities of the gunboat I lately commanded 
as high as the branching ofl“ of the Quilimane river (Mazaro), 
which, in the dry season, is observed many yards above the 
Luabo (main stream); though I have been told by the Portu¬ 
guese that the freshes which come down in December and March 
fill it temporarily. These freshes deepen the river considerably 
at that time of the year, and freshen the water many miles from 
the coast. The population of the delta, except in the immediate 
neighbourhood of the Portuguese, appeared to be very sparse. 
Antelopes and hippopotami were plentiful; the former tame and 
easily shot. I inqumed frequently of both natives and Portu¬ 
guese, if slavers were in the habit of entering there to sliip their 
cargoes, but could not ascertain that they have ever done so in 
any except the Quilimane. With common precaution the rivers 
are not unhealthy; for, dmdng the whole time I was employed 
in them (off* and on during eighteen months), in open boats and 
at all times of the year, frequently absent from the ship for a 
month or six weeks at a time, I had not, in my boat’s crew of 
fourteen men, more than two, and those mild, cases of fever. 
Too much importance cannot be ascribed to the use of quinine, 
to which I attribute our comparative immunity, and with which 
our judicious commander. Commodore Wyvill, kept us amply 
supplied. I hope these few remarks may be of some little use 
in confirming your views of the utility of that magnificent river. 
A. H. H. Hoskins.” 
