particular aspect, we believe that the Mozambican is freer than any citizen
in the East African countries. For there is no Asian trader - the indispensable middle-man! FRELIMO is the sole buyer and seller.  Of course there
is no currency, but it is not required as all goods and produce are bartered.
We have already mentioned that the first startling thing we saw here was
the extensive trading activity near the border. The main produce being
"purchased" by FRELIMO v/ere cashewnuts, groundnuts and oilseeds, all of
which are exported.
And what of the signs of war? In the particular section of Cabo Delgado
that we toured, there were no Portuguese apart from the prisoners held by
FRELIMO, and of course Portuguese aircraft who occasionally harassed us.
One day they strafed an area nearby with their West German napalm. But it
was totally ineffective. Usually a reconnaisance plane flies over the area
first, and then is followed later by the bombers. It was fascinating how
even four-year-old children could distinguish between the sounds of the two
different kinds of aircraft. The whole area is thickly covered with bushes
and as soon as the droning engines are heard, the people just go to their
shelters where the bombs cannot reach them.
arms captured, deserters, prisoners
Belgian rifles, American mines, bazookas and TNT, West German MG machine
guns, mounds of Portuguese uniforms - material proof of FRELIMO successes -
all these things we saw_with our own eyes. We saw many roads that had been
completely destroyed. In fact during our visit the Portuguese attempted
to open a road that was vital to their communications, but they were prevented from-doing so by seven separate FRELIMO attacks. Eventually they
were so frustrated that they even went so far as to leave notes for FRELIMO
in the bush stating that if the road was repaired, both sides would bebe-
fit. But FRELIMO does not need roads5  everyone goes on foot through the
bush.
At one camp v/e visited, v/e were able to talk to some prisoners and deserters. One of them described a devastating attack, on 10 August, 1968, by
the nationalist forces against Mueda airbase, v/here he was then stationed.
Twelve aircraft were destroyed, to be followed a few days later by three
more that were shot down.  On the day after the Mueda attack, he was
aboard one of six military lorries loaded with soldiers that was on its
way to Mutamba dos Macondes. They v/ere ambushed and five lorries destroyed,
Americo only escaped because he was in the sixth lorry. He also gave an
enlightening account of the low morale among the Portuguese soldiers because of the constant attacks and ambushes they suffer. Apparently, on
arrival in Mozambique he and the other soldiers v/ere told that they were
going to fight Chinese, Tanzanian, Russians and Cubans v/ho had invaded
their country.
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