Zambesi Expedition | Page 5

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. In using the plural number they are meant, and
I