May 28, I860.] SOUTH CENTRAL AFRICA. 181 



the summer, and then re-visit the Hauran, hoping to penetrate into 

 Arabia. 



Our eminent explorer, Dr. Livingstone, has added largely to his 

 former laurels by his explorations of the Shire and Shirwa. I need 

 not here recapitulate what has already appeared from time to time in 

 the published " Proceedings" of this Society, and is, doubtless, 

 familiar to all of us. Ilis vessel, the Ma Robert^ has, for some time, 

 failed to satisfy his needs ; and he awaits, in company with Ihe 

 remainder of his party, a new steamer, promised by the Admiralty, 

 and now being constructed.* Mr. E. Thornton, the geologist, has 

 quitted the party, and is at the present time conducting an expe- 

 dition on his own behalf, of which some few scanty tidings have 

 reached us. 



Although much zeal is being shown by the Portuguese, in 

 collecting and publishing the ancient and modern travels of their 

 compatriots in Africa, it is remarkable that the numerous travellers 

 of whom we have more or less information, should have contributed 

 to so small an extent as they have done to a knowledge of the 

 geography of South Central Africa. 



This fact shows, in unmistakeable colours, the wide difference 

 between a mere transit from one point to another, and that of a 

 scientific exploration of a line of route. Unless the day-book be 

 accurately kept, and astronomical observations be made from time 

 to time, the narrative of a traveller is almost sure to become a 

 chaos to the student. This has been the case with Portuguese 

 discoverers generally, with the sole exception of Lacerda, who died 

 in Central Africa more than half a century ago. The journey of 

 Silva Porto, which was read some months since before this Society, 

 and which will appear at length in its next Journal, is perhaps the 

 most instructive of the mere narratives. It will be recollected that 

 he was selected by the Governor of Angola as the most proper 

 person to accept the proffered safe conduct of those Arabs who had 

 previously crossed the continent from the eastward, and were about 

 to return ; and that he did return with them to Mozambique, and 

 passed Livingstone, as that explorer issued for the first time from 

 the interior; and that he had crossed Africa and reached the Eastern 

 coast about the same time that Livingstone first emerged at the 

 western. Silva Porto's journey, running as it does roughly parallel 



* The Pioneer has just staited, under the command of our associate, Mr. D. 

 May, R.N. 



