At Shupanga, a one-storied stone house stands on the prettiest site on
the river. In front a sloping lawn, with a fine mango orchard at its
southern end, leads down to the broad Zambesi, whose green islands repose
on the sunny bosom of the tranquil waters. Beyond, northwards, lie vast
fields and forests of palm and tropical trees, with the massive mountain
of Morambala towering amidst the white clouds; and further away more
distant hills appear in the blue horizon. This beautifully situated
house possesses a melancholy interest from having been associated in a
most mournful manner with the history of two English expeditions. Here,
in 1826, poor Kirkpatrick, of Captain Owen's Surveying Expedition, died
of fever; and here, in 1862, died, of the same fatal disease, the beloved
wife of Dr. Livingstone. A hundred yards east of the house, under a
large Baobab-tree, far from their native land, both are buried.

The Shupanga-house was the head-quarters of the Governor during the
Mariano war. He told us that the province of Mosambique costs the Home
Government between 5000_l_. and 6000_l_. annually, and East Africa yields
no reward in return to the mother country. We met there several other
influential Portuguese. All seemed friendly, and expressed their
willingness to assist the expedition in every way in their power; and
better still, Colonel Nunes and Major Sicard put their good-will into
action, by cutting wood for the steamer and sending men to help in
unloading. It was observable that not one of them knew anything about
the Kongone Mouth; all thought that we had come in by the "Barra
Catrina," or East Luabo. Dr. Kirk remained here a few weeks; and,
besides exploring a small lake twenty miles to the south-west, had the
sole medical care of the sick and wounded soldiers, for which valuable
services he received the thanks of the Portuguese Government. We wooded
up at this place with African ebony or black wood, and lignum vitae; the
latter tree attains an immense size, sometimes as much as four feet in