which Morumbala merges, we crossed the mouth of the Shire, which
seemed to be about 200 yards broad. A little inland from the confluence
there is another rebel stockade, which was attacked by Ensign Rebeiro
with three European soldiers, and captured; they disarmed the rebels and
threw the guns into the water. This ensign and Miranda volunteered
to disperse the people of Kisaka who were riding roughshod over
the inhabitants of Senna; but the offer was declined, the few real
Portuguese fearing the disloyal half-castes among whom they dwelt.
Slavery and immorality have here done their work; nowhere else does
the European name stand at so low an ebb; but what can be expected?
Few Portuguese women are ever taken to the colonies, and here I did
not observe that honorable regard for the offspring which I noticed in
Angola. The son of a late governor of Tete was pointed out to me in the
condition and habit of a slave. There is neither priest nor school at
Senna, though there are ruins of churches and convents.

On passing the Shire we observed great quantities of the plant
Alfacinya, already mentioned, floating down into the Zambesi. It is
probably the 'Pistia stratiotes', a gigantic "duck-weed". It was mixed
with quantities of another aquatic plant, which the Barotse named
"Njefu", containing in the petiole of the leaf a pleasant-tasted nut.
This was so esteemed by Sebituane that he made it part of his tribute
from the subjected tribes. Dr. Hooker kindly informs me that the njefu
"is probably a species of 'Trapa', the nuts of which are eaten in the
south of Europe and in India. Government derives a large revenue from
them in Kashmir, amounting to 12,000 Pounds per annum for 128,000
ass-loads! The ancient Thracians are said to have eaten them largely. In
the south of France they are called water-chestnuts." The existence of
these plants in such abundance in the Shire may show that it flows from
large collections of still water. We found them growing in all the still
branches and lagoons of the Leeambye in the far north, and there also we
met a beautiful little floating plant, the 'Azolla Nilotica', which is
found in the upper Nile. They are seldom seen in flowing streams.

A few miles beyond the Shire we left the hills entirely, and sailed
between extensive flats. The banks seen in the distance are covered
with trees. We slept on a large inhabited island, and then came to the
entrance of the River Mutu (latitude 18d 3' 37" S.,