The natives (Landeens) are a bold, independent race,
who do not acknowledge the Portuguese authority, and even make them pay
for leave to pass unmolested. Throughout the whole course of the river
hippopotami were very abundant, and at one village a chase by the natives
was witnessed. They harpoon the animal with a barbed lance,
to which is attached, by a cord 3 or 4 fathoms long, an inflated bladder.
The natives follow in their canoes, and look out to fix more harpoons
as the animal rises to blow, and, when exhausted, dispatch him
with their lances. It is, in fact, nearly similar to a whale-hunt.
Elephants and lions are also abundant on the western side;
the latter destroy many of the blacks annually, and are much feared by them.
Alligators are said to be numerous, but I did not see any.
"The voyage up to Maruru occupied seven days, as I did not work the men
at the oar, but it might be done in four; we returned to the bar
in two and a half days.
"There is another mouth of the Zambesi seven miles to the westward of Luabo,
which was visited by the `Castor's pinnace'; and I was assured
by Lieutenant Hoskins that the bar was better than the one I visited."
The conclusions of Captain Parker are strengthened by those
of Lieut.
