INHAMBANE, a seaport of Portuguese East Africa, in 23° 5o' S., 35° 25' E., 28o m. from Beira and 248 from Delagoa bay. It is situated on a river of the same name which enters Inham bane bay. In 1921 the maximum temperature was 9o° and the minimum 58°. The town dates from the middle of the i6th cen tury. The principal church is built with stone and marble brought from Portugal. A water supply and the electric light have re cently been installed. Trade was formerly mostly in ivory and slaves. In 1834 Inhambane was taken by a Zulu horde under Manukosi (see GAZALAND). It was not until towards the close of the i9th century that the trade of the town revived. In 1926, 16o tons of mafurra, 200 tons of copra, and 490 tons of sugar were exported among other products. Cotton goods and cheap wines (for consumption by natives) are the principal imports. The har bour is about 9 m. long by 5 wide. The bar and channels are marked by illuminated buoys. The depth of water over the bar varies from 17 to 28 f t. The port has a ferro-concrete wharf, 379 ft. long, at which large steamers can berth. The depth at low spring tides is 23 ft. In 1925-6, 2 o3 ships left the port with 352,28o tons of cargo. Goods landed amounted to 71,138 tons.
Inhambane is the natural port for the extensive and fertile district between the Limpopo and Sabie rivers. This region is the best recruiting ground for labourers in the Rand gold mines. Mineral oils have been found within a short distance of the port. The town has official primary schools. Trade schools have been established in nearly all the circumscriptions of the district. There is a wireless station with a range of 300 miles.
See Delagoa Bay Directory (1927).