May 26, 1856.] AFRICA. 159 



remain unanswered, nor this vast inland region contimie almost a 

 blank upon our maps. There are not' wanting, in this and other 

 countries, men both willing and able to undertake the task. 

 The gallant Commajider of the expedition from Zayla to Harar, 

 Captain Burton, has volunteered to proceed from Zanzibar inland 

 towards the famed Sea of Niassa, and, after exploring its locality, to 

 turn northward towards the Bahr el Abiad ; and I will here mention 

 that the Council are now in communication with the Foreign Office 

 and the East India Company, on the subject of the means for 

 sending out an expedition in this direction, a deputation having 

 already had interviews with the Earl of Clarendon. 



In Southern Africa, our medallist, Dr. Livingston, is still prose- 

 cuting his indefatigable researches. At the last Anniversary, we learnt 

 that he reached Loanda in an exhausted condition, labouring under 

 the effect of fever. His journey thither will be found most interest- 

 ing, and will well repay the perusal. He then announced his inten- 

 tion of returning to the interior, and of visiting the great chief Muata 

 ya Nvo, or Matiamvo, and of ultimately descending the Leeambye to 

 Quilimane, on the east coast of Africa. By a letter from him at 

 Cassange, we learn that he had so far carried out the first portion of 

 his plan ; but from other sources we are informed that he left Cas- 

 sang6 in February last, crossed the Quango, and pushed on for a 

 trading station, named Cobango, on the river Chihombo, with a view 

 of carrying out his before-mentioned intention of putting himself in 

 communication with Matiamvo. On reaching this place his health 

 was found to have suffered much, from having slept several nights 

 upon a vast plain entirely covered with water ; and he was compelled 

 to abandon his intention of visiting Matiamvo, and obliged to strike 

 off southward towards the country of his companions, which he 

 appears to have reached in safety, and in excellent health. Dr. 

 Livingston's observations have been communicated to the Society 

 by Mr. Maclear, the astronomer at the Cape, by whom they have 

 been recalculated and found to be of the most satisfactory cha- 

 racter — a feature, in the qualification of a traveller, of the first mo- 

 ment, and which this Society will do well to encourage. 



In connection with discovery in the south-east part of Africa, Mr. 

 Moffat, the father-in-law of Dr. Livingston, anxious to learn his fate 

 and to forward supplies for him, had proceeded to Moselekatse*s 

 country, the full accounts of which interesting visit have been 

 kindly forwarded to us, by the London Missionary Society, 

 and will be printed in the Journal. 



P 



