This Knowledge
Makes Me Doubly Anxious To Render My Narrative Acceptable To All My
Readers; But, In The Absence Of
Any excellence in literary
composition, the natural consequence of my pursuits, I have to offer
only a simple account of
A mission which, with respect to the objects
proposed to be thereby accomplished, formed a noble contrast to some
of the earlier expeditions to Eastern Africa. I believe that the
information it will give, respecting the people visited and the
countries traversed, will not be materially gainsaid by any future
commonplace traveller like myself, who may be blest with fair health
and a gleam of sunshine in his breast. This account is written in
the earnest hope that it may contribute to that information which
will yet cause the great and fertile continent of Africa to be no
longer kept wantonly sealed, but made available as the scene of
European enterprise, and will enable its people to take a place among
the nations of the earth, thus securing the happiness and prosperity
of tribes now sunk in barbarism or debased by slavery; and, above
all, I cherish the hope that it may lead to the introduction of the
blessings of the Gospel.
In order that the following narrative may be clearly understood, it
is necessary to call to mind some things which took place previous to
the Zambesi Expedition being sent out. Most geographers are aware
that, before the discovery of Lake Ngami and the well-watered country
in which the Makololo dwell, the idea prevailed that a large part of
the interior of Africa consisted of sandy deserts, into which rivers
ran and were lost. During my journey in 1852-6, from sea to sea,
across the south intertropical part of the continent, it was found to
be a well-watered country, with large tracts of fine fertile soil
covered with forest, and beautiful grassy valleys, occupied by a
considerable population; and one of the most wonderful waterfalls in
the world was brought to light. The peculiar form of the continent
was then ascertained to be an elevated plateau, somewhat depressed in
the centre, and with fissures in the sides by which the rivers
escaped to the sea; and this great fact in physical geography can
never be referred to without calling to mind the remarkable
hypothesis by which the distinguished President of the Royal
Geographical Society (Sir Roderick I. Murchison) clearly indicated
this peculiarity, before it was verified by actual observation of the
altitudes of the country and by the courses of the rivers. New light
was thrown on other portions of the continent by the famous travels
of Dr. Barth, by the researches of the Church of England missionaries
Krapf, Erkhardt, and Rebman, by the persevering efforts of Dr.
Baikie, the last martyr to the climate and English enterprise, by the
journey of Francis Galton, and by the most interesting discoveries of
Lakes Tanganyika and Victoria Nyanza by Captain Burton, and by
Captain Speke, whose untimely end we all so deeply deplore. Then
followed the researches of Van der Decken, Thornton, and others; and
last of all the grand discovery of the main source of the Nile, which
every Englishman must feel an honest pride in knowing was
accomplished by our gallant countrymen, Speke and Grant. The
fabulous torrid zone, of parched and burning sand, was now proved to
be a well-watered region resembling North America in its fresh-water
lakes, and India in its hot humid lowlands, jungles, ghauts, and cool
highland plains.
The main object of this Zambesi Expedition, as our instructions from
Her Majesty's Government explicitly stated, was to extend the
knowledge already attained of the geography and mineral and
agricultural resources of Eastern and Central Africa - to improve our
acquaintance with the inhabitants, and to endeavour to engage them to
apply themselves to industrial pursuits and to the cultivation of
their lands, with a view to the production of raw material to be
exported to England in return for British manufactures; and it was
hoped that, by encouraging the natives to occupy themselves in the
development of the resources of the country, a considerable advance
might be made towards the extinction of the slave-trade, as they
would not be long in discovering that the former would eventually be
a more certain source of profit than the latter. The Expedition was
sent in accordance with the settled policy of the English Government;
and the Earl of Clarendon, being then at the head of the Foreign
Office, the Mission was organized under his immediate care. When a
change of Government ensued, we experienced the same generous
countenance and sympathy from the Earl of Malmesbury, as we had
previously received from Lord Clarendon; and, on the accession of
Earl Russell to the high office he has so long filled, we were always
favoured with equally ready attention and the same prompt assistance.
Thus the conviction was produced that our work embodied the
principles, not of any one party, but of the hearts of the statesmen
and of the people of England generally. The Expedition owes great
obligations to the Lords of the Admiralty for their unvarying
readiness to render us every assistance in their power; and to the
warm-hearted and ever-obliging hydrographer to the Admiralty, the
late Admiral Washington, as a subordinate, but most effective agent,
our heartfelt gratitude is also due; and we must ever thankfully
acknowledge that our efficiency was mainly due to the kind services
of Admirals Sir Frederick Grey, Sir Baldwin Walker, and all the naval
officers serving under them on the East Coast. Nor must I omit to
record our obligations to Mr. Skead, R.N. The Luawe was carefully
sounded and surveyed by this officer, whose skilful and zealous
labours, both on that river, and afterwards on the Lower Zambesi,
were deserving of all praise.
In speaking of what has been done by the Expedition, it should always
be understood that Dr. Kirk, Mr. Charles Livingstone, Mr. R.
Thornton, and others composed it.
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