第111章
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  ThecauseofthedecadenceofthePortuguesepowerinthisregionissimplythis:Informertimes,considerablequantitiesofgrain,aswheat,millet,andmaize,wereexported;alsocoffee,sugar,oil,andindigo,besidesgold-dustandivoryThecultivationofgrainwascarriedonbymeansofslaves,ofwhomthePortuguesepossessedalargenumberThegold-dustwasprocuredbywashingatvariouspointsonthenorth,south,andwestofTeteAmerchanttookallhisslaveswithhimtothewashings,carryingasmuchcalicoandothergoodsashecouldmusterOnarrivingatthewashing-place,hemadeapresenttothechiefofthevalueofaboutapoundsterling。

  Theslaveswerethendividedintoparties,eachheadedbyaconfidentialservant,whonotonlyhadthesupervisionofhissquadwhilethewashingwenton,butboughtdustfromtheinhabitants,andmadeaweeklyreturntohismasterWhenseveralmastersunitedatonespot,itwascalleda“Bara“,andtheythenerectedatemporarychurch,inwhichapriestfromoneofthemissionsperformedmass。

  Bothchiefsandpeoplewerefavorabletothesevisits,becausethetraderspurchasedgrainforthesustenanceoftheslaveswiththegoodstheyhadbroughtTheycontinuedatthislaboruntilthewholeofthegoodswereexpended,andbythismeansabout130lbsofgoldwereannuallyproducedProbablymorethanthiswasactuallyobtained,but,asitwasanarticleeasilysecreted,thisalonewassubmittedtotheauthoritiesfortaxation。

  AtpresentthewholeamountofgoldobtainedannuallybythePortugueseisfrom8to10lbsonlyWhentheslave-tradebegan,itseemedtomanyofthemerchantsamorespeedymodeofbecomingrichtosellofftheslavesthantopursuetheslowmodeofgold-washingandagriculture,andtheycontinuedtoexportthemuntiltheyhadneitherhandstolabornortofightforthemItwasjustthestoryofthegooseandthegoldenegg。

  Thecoffeeandsugarplantationsandgold-washingswereabandoned,becausethelaborhadbeenexportedtotheBrazilsManyofthePortuguesethenfollowedtheirslaves,andthegovernmentwasobligedtopassalawtopreventfurtheremigration,which,haditgoneon,wouldhavedepopulatedthePortuguesepossessionsaltogether。

  AclevermanofAsiaticGoaandPortugueseextraction,calledNyaude,nowbuiltastockadeattheconfluenceoftheLuenyaandZambesi;

  andwhenthecommandantofTetesentanofficerwithhiscompanytosummonhimtohispresence,Nyaudeaskedpermissionoftheofficertodresshimself,whichbeinggranted,hewentintoaninnerapartment,andtheofficerorderedhismentopiletheirarmsAdrumofwarbegantobeatanotewhichiswellknowntotheinhabitants。

  Someofthesoldierstookthealarmonhearingthisnote,buttheofficer,disregardingtheirwarning,was,withhiswholeparty,inafewminutesdisarmedandboundhandandfootThecommandantofTetethenarmedthewholebodyofslavesandmarchedagainstthestockadeofNyaude,butwhentheycameneartoittherewastheLuenyastilltocross。

  Astheydidnoteffectthisspeedily,NyaudedispatchedastrongpartyunderhissonBongaacrosstheriverbelowthestockade,anduptheleftbankoftheZambesiuntiltheycameneartoTete。

  TheythenattackedTete,whichwaswhollyundefendedsavebyafewsoldiersinthefort,plunderedandburnedthewholetownexceptthehouseofthecommandantandafewothers,withthechurchandfort。

  Thewomenandchildrenfledintothechurch;anditisaremarkablefactthatnoneofthenativesofthisregionwilleverattackachurch。

  HavingrenderedTetearuin,BongacarriedoffallthecattleandplundertohisfatherNewsofthishavingbeenbroughttothearmybeforethestockade,asuddenpanicdispersedthewhole;

  andasthefugitivestookroundaboutwaysintheirflight,Katolosa,whohadhithertopretendedtobefriendlywiththePortuguese,sentouthismentocaptureasmanyofthemastheycould。

  TheykilledmanyforthesakeoftheirarmsThisistheaccountwhichbothnativesandPortuguesegiveoftheaffair。

  Anotherhalf-castefromMacao,calledKisakaorChoutama,ontheoppositebankoftheriver,likewiserebelledHisfatherhavingdied,heimaginedthathehadbeenbewitchedbythePortuguese,andhethereforeplunderedandburnedalltheplantationsoftherichmerchantsofTeteonthenorthbankAsIhavebeforeremarked,thatbankisthemostfertile,andtherethePortuguesehadtheirvillasandplantationstowhichtheydailyretiredfromTeteWhentheseweredestroyedtheTetepeoplewerecompletelyimpoverishedAnattemptwasmadetopunishthisrebel,butitwasalsounsuccessful,andhehaslatelybeenpardonedbythehomegovernmentOnepointinthenarrativeofthisexpeditionisinterestingTheycametoafieldofsugar-canesolargethat4000meneatingitduringtwodaysdidnotfinishthewhole。

  ThePortuguesewerethusplacedbetweentwoenemies,NyaudeontherightbankandKisakaontheleft,andnotonlyso,butNyaude,havingplacedhisstockadeonthepointoflandontherightbanksofboththeLuenyaandZambesi,andwashedbyboththeserivers,couldpreventintercoursewiththesea。

  TheLuenyarushesintotheZambesiwithgreatforcewhenthelatterislow,and,incominguptheZambesi,boatsmustcrossitandtheLuenyaseparately,evengoingalittlewayupthatriver,soasnottobedrivenawaybyitscurrentinthebedoftheZambesi,anddashedontherockwhichstandsontheoppositeshoreIncominguptotheLuenyaforthispurpose,allboatsandcanoescameclosetothestockadetoberobbed。

  NyaudekeptthePortugueseshutupintheirfortatTeteduringtwoyears,andtheycouldonlygetgoodssufficienttobuyfoodbysendingtoKilimanebyanoverlandroutealongthenorthbankoftheZambesi。

  Themothercountrydidnotinthese“Caffrewars“paythebills,sonooneeitherbecamerichorblamedthemissionaries。

  Themerchantswereunabletoengageintrade,andcommerce,whichtheslave-tradehadrenderedstagnant,wasnowcompletelyobstructed。

  ThepresentcommandantofTete,MajorSicard,havinggreatinfluenceamongthenatives,fromhisgoodcharacter,putastoptothewarmorethanoncebyhismerepresenceonthespotWeheardofhimamongtheBanyaiasamanwithwhomtheywouldneverfight,because“hehadagoodheart。”HadIcomedowntothiscoastinsteadofgoingtoLoandain1853,Ishouldhavecomeamongthebelligerentswhilethewarwasstillraging,andshouldprobablyhavebeencutoff。

  Mypresentapproachwasjustattheconclusionofthepeace;

  andwhenthePortugueseauthoritiesherewereinformed,throughthekindofficesofLordClarendonandCountdeLavradio,thatIwasexpectedtocomethisway,theyalldeclaredthatsuchwastheexistingstateofaffairsthatnoEuropeancouldpossiblypassthroughthetribesSomenativesatlastcamedowntherivertoTeteandsaid,alludingtothesextantandartificialhorizon,that“theSonofGodhadcome。”

  andthathewas“abletotakethesundownfromtheheavensandplaceitunderhisarm!”MajorSicardthenfeltsurethatthiswasthemanmentionedinLordClarendon’sdispatch。

  OnmentioningtothecommandantthatIhaddiscoveredasmallseamofcoal,hestatedthatthePortuguesewerealreadyawareofninesuchseams,andthatfiveofthemwereontheoppositebankoftheriver。

  AssoonasIhadrecoveredfrommyfatigueIwenttoexaminethem。

  WeproceededinaboattothemouthoftheLofubuorRevubu,whichisabouttwomilesbelowTete,andontheoppositeornorthernbank。

  Ascendingthisaboutfourmilesagainstastrongcurrentofbeautifullyclearwater,welandednearasmallcataract,andwalkedabouttwomilesthroughveryfertilegardenstotheseam,whichwefoundtobeinoneofthefeedersoftheLofubu,calledMuatizeorMotizeTheseamisintheperpendicularbank,anddipsintotherivulet,orinanortherlydirection。

  Thereis,firstofall,aseam10inchesindiameter,thensomeshale,belowwhichthereisanotherseam,58inchesofwhichareseen,and,asthebottomtouchesthewateroftheMuatize,itmaybemore。

  Thispartoftheseamisabout30yardslongThereisthenafault。

  About100yardshigherupthestreamblackvesiculartrapisseen,penetratinginthinveinstheclayshaleofthecountry,convertingitintoporcellanite,andpartiallycrystallizingthecoalwithwhichitcameintocontactOntherightbankoftheLofubuthereisanotherfeederenteringthatrivernearitsconfluencewiththeMuatize,whichiscalledtheMorongozi,inwhichthereisanotherandstilllargerbedofcoalexposed。

  FartheruptheLofubuthereareotherseamsintherivuletsInyavuandMakare;

  alsoseveralspotsintheMaravicountryhavethecoalcroppingout。

  Thishasevidentlybeenbroughttothesurfacebyvolcanicactionatalaterperiodthanthecoalformation。

  IalsowentuptheZambesi,andvisitedahotspringcalledNyamboronda,situatedinthebedofasmallrivuletnamedNyaondo,whichshowsthatigneousactionisnotyetextinctWelandedatasmallrivuletcalledMokorozi,thenwentamileortwototheeastward,wherewefoundahotfountainatthebottomofahighhill。

  AlittlespringbubblesupononesideoftherivuletNyaondo,andagreatquantityofacridsteamrisesupfromthegroundadjacent,about12feetsquareofwhichissohotthatmycompanionscouldnotstandonitwiththeirbarefeetThereareseverallittleholesfromwhichthewatertrickles,buttheprincipalspringisinaholeafootindiameter,andaboutthesameindepthNumbersofbubblesareconstantlyrising。

  Thesteamfeelsacridinthethroat,butisnotinflammable,asitdidnotburnwhenIheldabunchoflightedgrassoverthebubbles。

  Themercuryrisesto158Degwhenthethermometerisputintothewaterinthehole,butafterafewsecondsitstandssteadilyat160Deg。

  Evenwhenflowingoverthestonesthewateristoohotforthehand。

  Littlefishfrequentlyleapoutofthestreaminthebedofwhichthefountainrises,intothehotwater,andgetscaldedtodeath。

  Wesawafrogwhichhadperformedtheexperiment,andwasnowcooked。

  Thestonesoverwhichthewaterflowsareincrustedwithawhitesalt,andthewaterhasasalinetasteThegroundhasbeendugoutnearthefountainbythenatives,inordertoextractthesaltitcontains。

  Itissituatedamongrocksofsyeniticporphyryinbroaddikes,andgneisstiltedonedge,andhavingastriketotheN。E。

  Therearemanyspecimensofhalf-formedpumice,withgreenstoneandlava。

  Someofthesandstonestrataaredislocatedbyahornblenderockandbybasalt,thesandstonenearesttothebasaltbeingconvertedintoquartz。

  Thecountryaround,asindeedallthedistrictlyingNandN。WofTete,ishilly,and,thehillsbeingcoveredwithtrees,thesceneryisverypicturesqueThesoilofthevalleysisveryfruitfulandwellcultivatedTherewouldnotbemuchdifficultyinworkingthecoal。

  TheLofubuisabout60yardsbroad;itflowsperennially,andatitsverylowestperiod,whichisafterSeptember,thereiswaterabout18inchesdeep,whichcouldbenavigatedinflat-bottomedboatsAtthetimeofmyvisititwasfull,andthecurrentwasverystrongIfthesmallcataractreferredtoweretobeavoided,theland-carriagebeyondwouldonlybeabouttwomiles。

  Theotherseamsfartheruptherivermay,afterpassingthecataract,beapproachedmoreeasilythanthatintheMuatize;astheseam,however,dipsdownintothestream,nodrainageoftheminewouldberequired,forifwaterwerecometoitwouldrunintothestream。

  Ididnotvisittheothers,butIwasinformedthatthereareseamsintheindependentnativeterritoryaswellasinthatofthePortuguese。

  ThatintheNakeisintheBanyaicountry,and,indeed,IhavenodoubtbutthatthewholecountrybetweenZumboandLupataisacoal-fieldofatleast2-1/2Degoflatitudeinbreadth,havingmanyfaults,madeduringthetimeoftheigneousaction。

  ThegraysandstonerockhavingsilicifiedtreeslyingonitisofthesedimensionsTheplantationinwhichtheseamofcoalexistswouldbevaluedamongthePortugueseatabout60dollarsor12Pounds,butmuchmorewouldprobablybeaskedifawealthypurchaserappeared。

  Theycouldnot,however,raisethepriceverymuchhigher,becauseestatescontainingcoalmightbehadfromthenativeownersatamuchcheaperrateThewagesoffreelaborers,whenemployedinsuchworkasgold-washing,agriculture,ordiggingcoal,is2yardsofunbleachedcalicoperdayTheymightbegottoworkcheaperifengagedbythemoon,orforabout16yardspermonth。

  Formasonsandcarpenterseven,theordinaryrateis2yardsperday。

  Thisiscalled1bracaTradesmenfromKilimanedemand4bracas,or8yards,perdayEnglishorAmericanunbleachedcalicoistheonlycurrencyusedThecarriageofgoodsuptherivertoTeteaddsabout10percenttotheircostTheusualconveyanceisbymeansofverylargecanoesandlaunchesbuiltatSenna。

  Theamountofmerchandisebroughtupduringthefivemonthsofpeaceprevioustomyvisitwasofthevalueof30,000dollars,orabout6000Pounds。

  Theannualsupplyofgoodsfortradeisabout15,000Pounds,beingcalico,thickbrasswire,beads,gunpowder,andguns。

  Thequantityofthelatteris,however,small,asthegovernmentofMozambiquemadethatarticlecontrabandafterthecommencementofthewar。

  Goods,whentradedwithinthetribesaroundthePortuguese,produceaprofitofonlyabout10percent。,thearticlestradedinbeingivoryandgold-dustAlittleoilandwheatareexported,butnothingelse。

  Tradewiththetribesbeyondtheexclusiveonesismuchbetter。

  Thirtybrassringscost10satSenna,1PoundatTete,and2PoundsbeyondthetribesinthevicinityofTete;theseareagoodpriceforapenfulofgold-dustofthevalueof2PoundsTheplantationsofcoffee,which,previoustothecommencementoftheslave-trade,yieldedonematerialforexportation,arenowdeserted,anditisdifficulttofindasingletree。

  Theindigo`Indigoferaargentea’,thecommonwildindigoofAfrica

  isfoundgrowingeverywhere,andlargequantitiesofthesenna-plant*

  growinthevillageofTeteandotherparts,butneitherindigonorsennaiscollectedCalumba-root,whichisfoundinabundanceinsomepartsfartherdowntheriver,isboughtbytheAmericans,itissaid,touseasadye-stuffAkindofsarsaparilla,oraplantwhichisbelievedbythePortuguesetobesuch,isfoundfromLondatoSenna,buthasneverbeenexported。

  *Theseappeartobelongto`Cassiaacutifolia’,ortruesennaofcommerce,foundinvariouspartsofAfricaandIndiaDrHooker。

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