I Had Been Three Years Without Hearing
From My Family; Letters Having Frequently Been Sent, But Somehow Or Other,
With But A Single Exception, They Never Reached Me.
I received, however,
a letter from Admiral Trotter, conveying information of their welfare,
and some newspapers, which were a treat indeed.
Her majesty's brig
the "Frolic" had called to inquire for me in the November previous,
and Captain Nolluth, of that ship, had most considerately left a case of wine;
and his surgeon, Dr. James Walsh, divining what I should need most,
left an ounce of quinine. These gifts made my heart overflow.
I had not tasted any liquor whatever during the time I had been in Africa;
but when reduced in Angola to extreme weakness, I found much benefit
from a little wine, and took from Loanda one bottle of brandy
in my medicine chest, intending to use it if it were again required;
but the boy who carried it whirled the box upside down,
and smashed the bottle, so I can not give my testimony
either in favor of or against the brandy.
But my joy on reaching the east coast was sadly imbittered by the news
that Commander MacLune, of H. M. brigantine "Dart", on coming in to Kilimane
to pick me up, had, with Lieutenant Woodruffe and five men,
been lost on the bar. I never felt more poignant sorrow.
It seemed as if it would have been easier for me to have died for them,
than that they should all be cut off from the joys of life
in generously attempting to render me a service. I would here acknowledge
my deep obligations to the Earl of Clarendon, to the admiral at the Cape,
and others, for the kind interest they manifested in my safety;
even the inquiries made were very much to my advantage. I also refer
with feelings of gratitude to the Governor of Mozambique for offering me
a passage in the schooner "Zambesi", belonging to that province;
and I shall never forget the generous hospitality of Colonel Nunes
and his nephew, with whom I remained. One of the discoveries I have made
is that there are vast numbers of good people in the world,
and I do most devoutly tender my unfeigned thanks to that Gracious One
who mercifully watched over me in every position, and influenced the hearts
of both black and white to regard me with favor.
With the united testimony of Captain Parker and Lieutenant Hoskins,
added to my own observation, there can be no reasonable doubt but that
the real mouth of the Zambesi is available for the purposes of commerce.
The delta is claimed by the Portuguese, and the southern bank of the Luabo,
or Cuama, as this part of the Zambesi is sometimes called,
is owned by independent natives of the Caffre family.
The Portuguese are thus near the main entrance to the new central region;
and as they have of late years shown, in an enlightened and liberal spirit,
their desire to develop the resources of Eastern Africa
by proclaiming Mozambique a free port, it is to be hoped
that the same spirit will lead them to invite mercantile enterprise
up the Zambesi, by offering facilities to those who may be led
to push commerce into the regions lying far beyond their territory.
Their wish to co-operate in the noble work of developing
the resources of the rich country beyond could not be shown better
than by placing a village with Zambesian pilots at the harbor of Mitilone,
and erecting a light-house for the guidance of seafaring men.
If this were done, no nation would be a greater gainer by it
than the Portuguese themselves, and assuredly no other
needs a resuscitation of its commerce more. Their kindness to me personally
makes me wish for a return of their ancient prosperity;
and the most liberal and generous act of the enlightened young king
H. M. Don Pedro, in sending out orders to support my late companions
at the public expense of the province of Mozambique until my return
to claim them, leads me to hope for encouragement in every measure
for either the development of commerce, the elevation of the natives,
or abolition of the trade in slaves.
As far as I am myself concerned, the opening of the new central country
is a matter for congratulation only in so far as it opens up a prospect
for the elevation of the inhabitants. As I have elsewhere remarked,
I view the end of the geographical feat as the beginning
of the missionary enterprise. I take the latter term
in its most extended signification, and include every effort made
for the amelioration of our race, the promotion of all those means by which
God in His providence is working, and bringing all His dealings with man
to a glorious consummation. Each man in his sphere, either knowingly
or unwittingly, is performing the will of our Father in heaven.
Men of science, searching after hidden truths, which, when discovered,
will, like the electric telegraph, bind men more closely together -
soldiers battling for the right against tyranny - sailors rescuing
the victims of oppression from the grasp of heartless men-stealers -
merchants teaching the nations lessons of mutual dependence -
and many others, as well as missionaries, all work in the same direction,
and all efforts are overruled for one glorious end.
If the reader has accompanied me thus far, he may, perhaps,
be disposed to take an interest in the objects I propose to myself,
should God mercifully grant me the honor of doing something more for Africa.
As the highlands on the borders of the central basin
are comparatively healthy, the first object seems to be
to secure a permanent path thither, in order that Europeans may pass
as quickly as possible through the unhealthy region near the coast.
The river has not been surveyed, but at the time I came down
there was abundance of water for a large vessel, and this continues
to be the case during four or five months of each year.
The months of low water still admit of navigation by launches,
and would permit small vessels equal to the Thames steamers
to ply with ease in the deep channel.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 279 of 295
Words from 288168 to 289214
of 306638
