favored us with the following observations on them:

"We have examined the samples you sent us yesterday, and think
the Conge or aloe fibre would be of no use to us, but the
Buaze fibre appears to resemble flax, and as prepared by you
will be equal to flax worth 50 Pounds or 60 Pounds per ton,
but we could hardly speak positively to the value unless we
had 1 cwt. or 2 cwt. to try on our machinery. However, we
think the result is promising, and we hope further inquiry
will be made as to the probable supply of the material."

We are, dear sir, your very obedient servants, Pye, Brothers.

The Rev. Dr. Livingstone.

A representation of the plant is given in the annexed woodcut,* as a
help to its identification. I was unable to procure either the flowers
or fruit; but, as it is not recognized at sight by that accomplished
botanist and eminent traveler, Dr. J. D. Hooker, it may safely be
concluded that it is quite unknown to botanists. It is stated by the
Portuguese to grow in large quantities in the Maravi country north of
the Zambesi, but it is not cultivated, and the only known use it has
been put to is in making threads on which the natives string their
beads. Elsewhere the split tendons of animals are employed for this
purpose. This seems to be of equal strength, for a firm thread of it
feels like catgut in the hand, and would rather cut the fingers than
break.

* Unfortunately, this woodcut can not be represented in this
ASCII text, but buaze, or bwazi, is 'Securidaca
longipedunculata'.--A. L., 1997.

Having waited a month for the commencement of the healthy season at
Kilimane, I would have started at the beginning of April, but tarried a
few days in order that the moon might make her appearance, and enable me
to take lunar observations on my way down the river. A sudden change of
temperature happening on the 4th, simultaneously with the appearance of
the new moon, the commandant and myself, with nearly every person in the
house, were laid up with a severe attack of fever. I soon recovered by
the use of my wonted remedies, but Major Sicard and his little boy were
confined much longer. There was a general fall of 4 Deg. of temperature
from the middle of March, 84 Deg. at 9 A.M., and 87 Deg. at 9 P.M.;
the greatest heat being 90 Deg. at midday, and the lowest 81 Deg.
at sunrise. It afforded me pleasure to attend the invalids in their
sickness, though I was unable to sh