mozambique

From John Kemp via email: These photographs were not taken in northwestern Zambia, but on the lower Zambezi in what is now Mozambique, below the confluence with the Shire river. Mrs. Livingstone was buried at Shupanga, below Sena, on 22nd April, 1862. The "Mosquito" was one of two rear-wheeled paddle steamers of the Royal Navy assembled at Chinde, at the mouth of the Zambezi, in 1890. Her sister ship was called the "Herald". For the grave, see Tim Jeal, "Livingstone", Penguin, p257,8. For the steamers, see H.H. Johnston, "British Central Africa", Edward Arnold, New York, 1897, p98.

The bottom photograph intrigues me for it shows a quarter wheel steamer. Although quarter wheel steamers were used on several African lakes and rivers this is the first one I've seen on the Zambesi/ Shire. What a pity there is no caption!

Delagoa Bay

Chiromo (top centre) is on the Shire River in southern Malawi (Nyasaland). My guess is that the photographer was on his, or her, way up to Nyasaland - possibly it's the same person who took those photos in Zomba.

Where is Delagoa Bay?

Delagoa Bay became Lourenco Marques and then, I think, Maputo. It's in southern Mocambique.

At Chinde, on the northernmost mouth of the Zambezi, in the 1890s was a British Concession (see photo 105-8) and a Post Office of Exchange where mail and other material was sorted for B.C.A. districts, German territory and the Congo Free State before being shipped upriver to Chiromo and beyond.

Suspect this may be Delagoa Bay, Mozambique.

The paddle steamer looks like one of our family photo's of the ALC fleet that plied from Chinde on the India Ocean coast, a British Enclave just over the sand bar on the only navigable tributary of the Zambezi River, to the Shire River - later to Chindio they went up to Chindio Delagoa Bay is down by Muputu so why did they put that place on a card with Zambezi River photo's? Oh what a puzzle.

Erica, if that was the route taken into Nyasaland (Malawi) by early settlers, missionaries and administrators (although I know some had to walk from the coast, perhaps when the Shire was in flood). Maybe the ship from Europe only disembarked passengers at Maputo on this occasion. It's a pity there isn't a journal.

I have never heard the word 'Slamer' so wonder if that is correct? I have also never heard of early travellers having to walk due to flooding. The main problem was low river levels which meant the deeper hulled boats were no good and they had to use primitive punt like boats of very low draught to get up the river in the dry season. The Society of Malawi has been producing a journal twice a year since 1948 covering such matters. It also has a very fine photographic archive including many photos on this Flickr site.

It looks more like Sh..... to me - Sharmer, perhaps, Mike. Will look at the SM site - thanks.