r was living for some five months on Mount Morambala, a
position from which the whole process of the slave-trade, and
depopulation of the country around could be well noted. The mountain
overlooks the Shire, the beautiful meanderings of which are distinctly
seen, on clear days, for thirty miles. This river was for some time
supposed to be closed against Mariano, who, as a mere matter of form, was
declared a rebel against the Portuguese flag. When, however, it became
no longer possible to keep up the sham, the river was thrown open to him;
and Mr. Waller has seen in a single day from fifteen to twenty canoes of
different sizes going down, laden with slaves, to the Portuguese
settlements from the so-called rebel camp. These cargoes were composed
entirely of women and children. For three months this traffic was
incessant, and at last, so completely was the mask thrown off, that one
of the officials came to pay a visit to Bishop Tozer on another part of
the same mountain, and, combining business with pleasure, collected
payment for some canoe work done for the Missionary party, and with this
purchased slaves from the rebels, who had only to be hailed from the bank
of the river. When he had concluded the bargain he trotted the slaves
out for inspection in Mr. Waller's presence. This official, Senhor
Mesquita, was the only officer who could be forced to live at the
Kongone. From certain circumstances in his life, he had fallen under the
power of the local Government; all the other Custom-house officers
refused to go to Kongone, so here poor Mesquita must live on a miserable
pittance--must live, and perhaps slave, sorely against his will. His
name is not brought forward with a view of throwing any odium on his
character. The disinterested kindness which he showed to Dr. Meller, and
others, forbids that he should be mentioned by us with anything like
unkindness.

Under all these considerations, with the fact that we had not found the
Rovuma so favourable for navigation at the time of our visit as we
expected, it was impossible not to coincide in the wisdom of our
withdrawal; but we deeply regretted that we had ever given credit to the
Portuguese Government for any desire to ameliorate the condition of the
African race; for, with half the labour and expense anywhere else, we
should have made an indelible mark of improvement on a section of the
Continent. Viewing Portuguese statesmen in the light of the laws they
have