Numbers Of Bubbles Are Constantly Rising.
The Steam Feels Acrid In The Throat, But Is Not Inflammable,
As It Did Not Burn When I Held A Bunch Of Lighted Grass Over The Bubbles.
The Mercury Rises To 158 Deg.
When the thermometer is put into the water
in the hole, but after a few seconds it stands steadily
At 160 Deg.
Even when flowing over the stones the water is too hot for the hand.
Little fish frequently leap out of the stream in the bed of which
the fountain rises, into the hot water, and get scalded to death.
We saw a frog which had performed the experiment, and was now cooked.
The stones over which the water flows are incrusted with a white salt,
and the water has a saline taste. The ground has been dug out
near the fountain by the natives, in order to extract the salt it contains.
It is situated among rocks of syenitic porphyry in broad dikes,
and gneiss tilted on edge, and having a strike to the N.E.
There are many specimens of half-formed pumice, with greenstone and lava.
Some of the sandstone strata are dislocated by a hornblende rock
and by basalt, the sandstone nearest to the basalt being converted
into quartz.
The country around, as indeed all the district lying N. and N.W. of Tete,
is hilly, and, the hills being covered with trees, the scenery
is very picturesque. The soil of the valleys is very fruitful
and well cultivated. There would not be much difficulty in working the coal.
The Lofubu is about 60 yards broad; it flows perennially,
and at its very lowest period, which is after September,
there is water about 18 inches deep, which could be navigated
in flat-bottomed boats. At the time of my visit it was full,
and the current was very strong. If the small cataract referred to
were to be avoided, the land-carriage beyond would only be about two miles.
The other seams farther up the river may, after passing the cataract,
be approached more easily than that in the Muatize; as the seam, however,
dips down into the stream, no drainage of the mine would be required,
for if water were come to it would run into the stream.
I did not visit the others, but I was informed that there are seams
in the independent native territory as well as in that of the Portuguese.
That in the Nake is in the Banyai country, and, indeed,
I have no doubt but that the whole country between Zumbo and Lupata
is a coal-field of at least 2-1/2 Deg. of latitude in breadth,
having many faults, made during the time of the igneous action.
The gray sandstone rock having silicified trees lying on it
is of these dimensions. The plantation in which the seam of coal exists
would be valued among the Portuguese at about 60 dollars or 12 Pounds,
but much more would probably be asked if a wealthy purchaser appeared.
They could not, however, raise the price very much higher,
because estates containing coal might be had from the native owners
at a much cheaper rate.
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