ROVIIIIA, a river of s.e. Africa, which enters the Indian ocean by a spacious bay n. of cape Delgado. Only a small portion near its month was known to Europeans till 1861, when Drs. Livingstone and Kirk attempted its ascent in the small steamer Pioneer, drawing five feet water. The river was then in flood, and had a strong current. After an ascent of 30 m. the difficulties of the passage induced the explorers to return. Another ascent was mettle by the same party during the dry season of 1S(2. With two ship's boats they reached the rapids which limit the navigation, above 1C0 m. from the coast, and half way to the Nyassa lake.
Passing through gloomy, unhealthy forests of mangroves, they entered a healthy plain, covered with heavy timber and brilliantly flaming tropical plants; but the country was infested by the "tsetse fly," a serious obstacle to its development. The river abounded with hippopotami. The travelers came within two days of the town of N'gomano, where all the caravans cross the Rovuma, but could not leave the boats in bider to reach it. 'Here the Rovuma is joined by the Niende, a large affluent from the hills on the s.w.; while the main stream comes from the w. and n.w. As the Rovnma
is nivirrable for only a few months of the year, it offers little advantage for commerce; but it affords an excellent entrance by which to explore the regions between the Nyassa and Tanganyika lakes. During his last African journey Dr. Livingstone and his party left Zanzibar in Mar., 1860. Owing to the swampy state of the country the party landed 25 in, n. of the Rovuma, and striking s,s.w across the country to that river, fob lowed it to the point where it is joined by the Leonde from the mountains on the s.w., near the eastern 'shore of lake Nyassa. On their arrival at N'gomano, the travelers found the country destitute of provisions, a tribe of Mazite having swept away all the food found above ground. Dr. Livingstone proposed to establish the base of his opera tions at N'gomano till he could find his way round the Nyassa; and the last authentic news of him received for a long time was from a letter dated thence on the 18th May, 1860. See LIVINGSTONE for the proceedings of that great traveler from the time he was at N'gomano till his death in 1873.