Nov. 28, 1859.] OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN EXPEDITION. 21 



than 6 miles wide. A hill of 6000 feet separates the valleys of the 

 Shire and the Shirwa, There are other hills besides : nearly all 

 of them are thickly covered with grass and trees, and are very 

 beautiful. The paths in the valley are but a foot wide, and lie 

 through dense grass 6 or 8 feet high. A few yards often hide a 

 companion completely, and guides are absolutely necessary. The 

 soil of the entire country is rich and well cultivated in patches. 

 Cotton is largely grown : everybody spins and weaves it. Two 

 parties of Ajana slave-traders were on the Shirwa at the same time 

 as Dr. Livingstone : they were in the habit of carrying their captives 

 to Quillimane. Dr. Kirk's report closes as follows : — " We have 

 thus shown a navigable river to exist upwards of 100 miles in length, 

 a people engaged extensively in agriculture, with a soil capable of 

 growing not only cereals but also cotton and sugar-cane of excellent 

 quality, and in almost unlimited amount. This rich valley may be 

 divided into three portions : the /rsf near the Zambesi, about 20 miles 

 in length, cultivable ; the second only 15 miles, marshy, but abound- 

 ing 'in game; the third 25 miles : this is probably both the richest 

 and healthiest of the three. The general width may be estimated at 

 20 miles. The situation of Morumbala, at the junction with the Zam- 

 besi, would be of the greatest importance to Europeans as a healthy 

 station midway between the growing districts and the sea. While 

 in the river none of our party complained of the least sickness, 

 although we were much exposed, and this is the unhealthy season." 

 Dr. Livingstone expresses an earnest hope that a more ef&cient 

 steamer may be sent to him, even though it be purchased out of his 

 own funds. He replies with warmth to the objections of those who 

 do not credit the future commercial value of the countries bordering 

 the Zambesi, and he points out the advantages which would attend 

 a colonization of their healthy highlands by a British community. 



Mr. T. Maclear, f.r.g.s., observed that Dr. Livingstone had forwarded to 

 him — one of the essentials in discovery — a very considerable amount of astro- 

 nomical observations for latitude and local time, also five observed occulta- 

 tions, by which the longitudes of the places discovered had been determined 

 with great accuracy, and free from instrumental error. 



The Chairman said that perhaps Mr. Crawfurd would defend his own 

 opinions on this subject. 



Mr. John Crawfurd, f.r.g.s., said it was possible he might be the indivi- 

 dual alluded to by Dr. Livingstone, and would certainly desire to have the 

 opportunity of saying a word or two in his own defence ; but at the same time 

 he was determined not to say a syllable that might be considered disrespectful 

 to that most enterprising traveller. Dr. Livingstone did not say that he was 

 either a merchant or an agriculturist ; and he (Mr. Crawfurd) had a perfect 

 right to dispute the opinions advanced by him on those subjects. First, then, 

 as to the Zambesi. He still held by the conviction that the Zambesi is not a 

 navigable river. Take Dr. Livingstone's own description of the river, and he 



