Discovery of the Great Lake " NgamV of South Africa. 153 



Dr Smith took upon himself especially the zoology, the ethno- 

 logy, and geology ; and the others all contributed according 

 to their powers, while the whole of their notes and journals 

 of every kind were to be made over to the association. 



The expedition started in 1834, reached at length the Rev. 

 Mr Moffat's residence at Kuruman, then the outpost of the 

 Missionary stations ; by him it was carried on further into 

 the Zoolah country, to the abode of the great chief Umsiligas. 

 This seemed for various reasons the furthest northing that 

 the expedition could make, but a small party went on in light 

 marching order a little further, so as to be just able to say 

 that 23° south latitude had actually been reached, before the 

 retrograde movement was begun. 



The chief result of this expedition has been the publication 

 of Dr A. Smith's beautiful and valuable zoological work, for 

 the publication of which the government granted a sum of 

 money. 



The personal journal, the astronomical, geographical, geo- 

 logical, and meteorological observations, have still to come ; 

 likewise Dr Smith's own observations touching the history,' 

 language, and other particulars of the various tribes of abori- 

 gines whom he met with ; as well as Mr Charles Bell's 

 inimitable drawings of the manners, customs, and appear- 

 ances of the natives, and his expressive landscape scenery. 



This degree or measure of success seemed to put the great 

 lake further off than ever, Europeans despaired of their ever 

 finding or beholding it, and none but traders and huntsmen 

 subsequently traversed that part merely of the road towards it, 

 which the expedition did pass over ; while the only scientific 

 mission which has acted since in South Africa, viz., that 

 of Captain Sir J. E. Alexander, sent out by the Royal Geo- 

 graphical Society of London, — hopeless, apparently, of doing 

 anything by following Dr Smith's route, travelled and ex- 

 plored along the western coast. 



It was remarked long since by the North American In- 

 dians and other aborigines, that the " black-robe chiefs of 

 the mission" had always preceded the daring hunter and 

 the crafty trader ; and in no country has the preceding spirit 

 of the missionaries been more evident than in South Africa. 

 While pushing their stations continually further and fui'ther 



