6 LIVINGSTON. [Nov. 12, 1855. 



drainage formed the rivers of North Australia. The expedition, passing 

 eastward, would probably skirt the northern limits of Sturt's Central 

 Desert, and reach the head waters of the streams that flow into the 

 Gulf of Carpentaria ; from thence it was hoped that it would be in a 

 condition to penetrate southwards, to the great bend of the Barcoo 

 River ; which was the northernmost point reached by Sir Thomas 

 Mitchell and Mr. Kennedy on their journeys from Sydney towards the 

 Gulf of Carpentaria. These operations would greatly extend our 

 knowledge of Northern Australia, and tend to open up communication 

 between it and the Southern colonies. 



4. Letters from Africa^ accompanied by a new Map of the Interior. 

 By Dr. Livingston. 



Communicated by Sir Eoderick Murchison. 



These letters of Dr. Livingston, including his observations and map, 

 will be found printed at length in vol. xxv. p. 217, of the forthcoming 

 Journal of the Royal Geographical Society. A short abstract will 

 therefore suffice : — He left the confluence of the Leeba and Leeambye, 

 lat. 14° 11' S. and long. 23° 40' E., to travel to the west coast of Africa. 

 Sekeletu, the king of that country (under whose protection he had been 

 long exploring), furnished him with 27 men and with oxen ; and Dr. Liv- 

 ingston proceeded by the way of Londa, whose king, Matiamvo, is well 

 known to the Portuguese. Many flooded rivers and plains were crossed 

 by the party, and at lat. 10° 17' S. they forded the Casai River, having 

 entered upon a new river system. The Londa country is forest land, 

 alternating with sward. The trees are interlaced with creepers, and 

 covered with mosses and lichens. Everything indicated a humid climate. 

 Thence they passed to an elevated table-land, overgrown with Cape 

 heaths and rhododendrons, and finally arrived at a sudden descent of 

 2000 feet, at the foot of which lay the wonderfully fertile valley of the 

 Cassange and the river Quango : 90 or 100 miles to the W. of this 

 descent appeared the edge of a similar table-land, but looking in the far 

 distance like a range of mountains. The tribes were found to alter for 

 the worse as the Portuguese territories were approached, and heavy fines 

 were levied on the Doctor's p^rty upon the most frivolous pretences, 

 but actual collision was avoided. Once within the Portuguese territories, 

 he pays full tribute to the courtesy and kindness he experienced at the 

 hands of the authorities and others. He arrived at Loanda labouring 

 under severe illness, having suffered very frequently from intermittent 

 fever. He adds that tlie Casai and Quango are reported by intelligent 

 i^atives, who profess knowledge of the country and who are believed by 



