Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/352

280 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. Luafjo, an old Portuguese town built noir one of the mouths of the river, has been gruduully destroyed by the erosive action of the stream. Since its disap- pearance the principal factories have been established about the Inhamissengo mouth. Although lying to the north of the Zambese delta, on on estuary which communicates with the mainstream only through uncertain or periodical channels, Qiteliniane is practically the only seaport of the whole basin. Its position as such will be permanently secured whenever the proposed route from the estuary to Lake Xyassa is constructed. Although founded three hundred and fifty years ago, it has always remained a small town, not only in consequence of its unhealthy climate, but also because of the vexatious customs regulations. lief ore 1853 the port had not been open to foreign trade, and its chief traffic was in slaves exported to the plantations of Brazil. Its white population consisted for the most part of Portuguese convicts banished from the mother country. It was from Quelimane that Lacerda started on his memorable expedition to the interior of the continent. Quelimane, or Sao Martinho, as it is officially called, is known to the natives by the name of Chiiambo. Its port is of difficult access, owing to a bar at the mouth of the estuiry which vessels drawing over ten or twelve feet can hardly attempt to cross in safety. But this obstruction once passed, the inner waters ofEer excellent anchor- age all the way to the town, which lies some 12 miles to the north of the coast, on the left bank of the Kwa-Kwa, familiarly known as the Quelimane River. The Kafirs constitute the bulk of the urban population, and also occupy numerous villages in the surrounding district, where they enjoj' the protection secured to them by the little Portuguese garrison. Although generally unhealthy, the climate of (iuelimune is said to be favourable to invalids affected by chest complaints. Unfortunately the residents have np health-resort, where they might escape from the malarious atmosphere of the neighbouring marshes and rice-grounds. The foreign trade of Quelimane, which is chiefly directed towards Bombay, and which increased threefold between the years 1876 and 1885, is partly in the hands of Banyans and Arabs. But the great development of the exchanges during the last few ye:irs is m linly due to the enterprise of the British settlers about the shores of Lake Nyassa. (Quelimane has supplanted the port of Mozambique for tjje export trade in ivory, which is now brought down by the steamers plying on the Zanibcse, whereas it was formerly conveyed overland to a large extent by the gangs of slaves bound for the coast. As a rule, about twice the quantity of ivory is forwarded from the east as from the west coast of the continent. Between the years 1879 and 1883 about 640,000 pounds were shipped on the western and 1,270,000 on the eastern seaboard, jointly representing a money value of £800,000 and the spoils of some 65,000 elephants.