The Zambesi at Mazaro is a magnificent river, more than half a mile wide, and without islands.  The opposite bank is covered with forests of fine timber; but the delta which begins here is only an immense flat, covered with high, coarse grass and reeds, with here and there a few mango and cocoanut trees.  This was the point which was reached by the late lamented Captain Parker, who fell at the Sulina mouth of the Danube.  I had a strong desire to follow the Zambesi farther, and ascertain where this enormous body of water found its way into the sea; but on hearing from the Portuguese that he had ascended to this point, and had been highly pleased with the capabilities of the river, I felt sure that his valuable opinion must be in possession of the Admiralty.  On my arrival in England I applied to Captain Washington, Hydrographer to the Admiralty, and he promptly furnished the document for publication by the Royal Geographical Society.

The river between Mazaro and the sea must therefore be judged of from the testimony of one more competent to decide on its merits than a mere landsman like myself.

‘On the Quilimane and Zambesi Rivers’.  From the Journal of the late Capt.  Hyde Parker, R.N., H. M. Brig “Pantaloon”.

“The Luabo is the main outlet of the Great Zambesi.  In the rainy season—­January and February principally—­the whole country is overflowed, and the water escapes by the different rivers as far up as Quilimane; but in the dry season neither Quilimane nor Olinda communicates with it.  The position of the river is rather incorrect in the Admiralty chart, being six miles too much to the southward, and also considerably to the westward.  Indeed, the coast from here up to Tongamiara seems too far to the westward.  The entrance to the Luabo River is about two miles broad, and is easily distinguishable, when abreast of it, by a bluff (if I may so term it) of high, straight trees, very close together, on the western side of the entrance.  The bar may be said to be formed by two series of sand-banks; that running from the eastern point runs diagonally across (opposite?) the entrance and nearly across it.  Its western extremity is about two miles outside the west point.

“The bank running out from the west point projects to the southward three miles and a half, passing not one quarter of a mile from the eastern or cross bank.  This narrow passage is the bar passage.  It breaks completely across at low water, except under very extraordinary circumstances.  At this time—­low water—­a great portion of the banks are uncovered; in some places they are seven or eight feet above water.