The Subject Is Worthy
The Investigation Of Those Who May Examine The Region
Between The Equator And 10 Deg.
S.; for the Nile does not show much increase
when the sun is at its farthest point north, or tropic of Cancer,
but at the time of its returning to the equator, exactly as in the other case
when he is on Capricorn, and the Zambesi is affected.*
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* The above is from my own observation, together with information
derived from the Portuguese in the interior of Angola; and I may add
that the result of many years' observation by Messrs. Gabriel and Brand
at Loanda, on the west coast, is in accordance therewith.
It rains there between the 1st and 30th of November,
but January and December are usually both warm and dry.
The heavier rains commence about the 1st of February,
and last until the 15th of May. Then no rain falls
between the 20th of May and the 1st of November. The rain averages
from 12 to 15 inches per annum. In 1852 it was 12.034 inches;
in 1853, 15.473 inches. Although I had no means of measuring
the amount of rain which fell in Londa, I feel certain
that the annual quantity exceeds very much that which falls on the coast,
because for a long time we noticed that every dawn was marked
by a deluging shower, which began without warning-drops or thunder.
I observed that the rain ceased suddenly on the 28th of April,
and the lesser rains commenced about a fortnight before
the beginning of November.
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From information derived from Arabs of Zanzibar, whom I met at Naliele
in the middle of the country, the region to the east of the parts of Londa
over which we have traveled resembles them in its conformation.
They report swampy steppes, some of which have no trees,
where the inhabitants use grass, and stalks of native corn, for fuel.
A large shallow lake is also pointed out in that direction,
named Tanganyenka, which requires three days for crossing in canoes.
It is connected with another named Kalagwe (Garague?), farther north,
and may be the Nyanja of the Maravim.
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