Discovery of the Great Lake ^^N garni " of South Africa. 155 



here, rather to incite scientific men to go and do their 

 part. We append Mr Livingston's letter to the end of this 

 notice, and will merely condense here the principal notabilia. 



The latitude of the E. corner of the lake at its junction 

 with the effluence the Zonga, was measured with a sextant, 

 to be 20° 20' S. The longitude was estimated at 24° E., con- 

 sequently about midway between the E. and W. coasts. 

 The height above the level of the sea was thermometrically 

 determined at 2200 feet. The length and breadth were 

 stated by the natives at 70 and 15 miles; Mr Livingston 

 saw in the former direction an uninterrupted horizon of water. 



The feeder of the lake coming down from the north was 

 described only by the natives ; but its water being very clear, 

 even during its annual risings, and these being incomprehen- 

 sible to the inhabitants of that part of the country, this course 

 may be expected to be long, and not improbably rising from 

 a snowy mountain. 



The effluent of the lake, the Zonga, was travelled along 

 by Mr L. for 300 miles ; as the water was clear, the stream 

 placid, the banks thickly clothed with beds of reeds, and the 

 height above the sea 2200 feet, — it may be presumed that 

 this river does not communicate with the ocean, and that it 

 is gradually dissipated like other rivers there by evaporation 

 and absorption. 



The banyan, the palmyra, and the baobab, taking the place 

 of the cactus, aloe, euphorbia and acacia, indicate the arrival 

 in a better watered country and a totally different botanical 

 region than any previously reached from the Cape. 



The inhabitants of the lake " Bayeiye,*' seem to be a new 

 race ; their language was unknown ; and they possess several 

 remarkable habits and customs totally at variance with the 

 characteristics of all the South African tribes, Hottentots, 

 Bushmen, Caffres, Bechuana, Zoolahs, &c., south of the 

 tropics ; as for instance, their having canoes, killing the hip- 

 potami with harpoons attached to ropes, and catching fish in 

 nets. 



The head of a fish which abounds in the lake, as well as a 

 fearful fly which stings the oxen to death, have been sent 

 home, and are declared to be new. 

 In conclusion, we have the pleasure of adding that although 



