enjoyed, might take high rank
among the fruits of the world. All that the Africans have thought of has
been present gratification; and now, as I sometimes deposit date-seeds
in the soil, and tell them I have no hope whatever of seeing the fruit,
it seems to them as the act of the South Sea Islanders appears to us,
when they planted in their gardens iron nails received from Captain
Cook.

There are many fruits and berries in the forests, the uses of which are
unknown to my companions. Great numbers of a kind of palm I have never
met with before were seen growing at and below the confluence of the
Loeti and Leeambye; the seed probably came down the former river. It is
nearly as tall as the palmyra. The fruit is larger than of that species;
it is about four inches long, and has a soft yellow pulp round the
kernel or seed; when ripe, it is fluid and stringy, like the wild mango,
and not very pleasant to eat.

Before we came to the junction of the Leeba and Leeambye we found
the banks twenty feet high, and composed of marly sandstone. They are
covered with trees, and the left bank has the tsetse and elephants. I
suspect the fly has some connection with this animal, and the Portuguese
in the district of Tete must think so too, for they call it the 'Musca
da elephant' (the elephant fly).

The water of inundation covers even these lofty banks, but does not
stand long upon them; hence the crop of trees. Where it remains for any
length of time, trees can not live. On the right bank, or that in which
the Loeti flows, there is an extensive flat country called Manga, which,
though covered with grass, is destitute in a great measure of trees.

Flocks of green pigeons rose from the trees as we passed along the
banks, and the notes of many birds told that we were now among strangers
of the feathered tribe. The beautiful trogon, with bright scarlet breast
and black back, uttered a most peculiar note, similar to that we read
of as having once been emitted by Memnon, and likened to the tuning of
a lyre. The boatmen answered it by calling "Nama, nama!"--meat, meat--as
if they thought that a repetition of the note would be a good omen for
our success in hunting. Many more interesting birds were met; but I
could make no collection, as I was proceeding on the plan of having as
little luggage as possible, so as not to excite the cupidity of those
through whose country we intended to pass.

Vast shoals of fish come down the Leeambye with t