156 Discovery of the Great Lake " Ngami " of South Africa. 



the Geographical Society could not exactly award with pro- 

 priety their Royal gold medal to discoveries in their science ; 

 made in a secondary point of view, and but indifferently de- 

 scribed, when it should be reserved for a Bruce or a Hum- 

 boldt, — yet they have with great satisfaction and alacrity 

 awarded the value of the medal in money ; and it is devoutly 

 to be hoped that Mr L. may be spared to continue the ex- 

 ploration which he has thus auspiciously begun. P. S. 



Letter from the Rev. David Livingston, addressed to the Rev. Arthur Tidman, 

 Foreign Secretary, London Missionary Society. 



Banks of the River Zonga, Srd September 1849. 



Dear Sir, — I left my station, Kolobeng (situated 25° South lat., 26 East 

 long.), on the 1st of June last, in order to carry into effect the intention, of 

 which I had previously informed you, viz. to open a new field in the North, by 

 penetrating the great obstacle to our progress, called the Desert, which, stretch- 

 ing away on our West, North-West, and North, has hitherto presented an in- 

 surmountable barrier to Europeans. 



A large party of Griquas, in about thirty waggons, made many and persever- 

 ing efforts at two different points last year j but, though inured to the climate, 

 and stimulated by the prospect of much gain from the ivory they expected to 

 procure, want of water compelled them to retreat. 



Two gentlemen, to whom I had communicated my intention of proceeding to 

 the oft-reported lake beyond the desert, came from England for the express 

 purpose of being present at the discovery, and to their liberal and zealous co- 

 operation we are especially indebted for the success with which that and other 

 objects have been accomplished. While waiting for their arrival, seven men 

 came to me from the Batavana, a tribe living on the banks of the lake, with an 

 earnest request from their chief for a visit. But the path by which they had 

 come to Kolobeng was impracticable for waggons ; so, declining their guidance 

 I selected the more circuitous route, by which the Bermangueato usually pass, 

 and, having Bakwains for guides, their self-interest in our success was secured 

 by my promising to carry any ivory they might procure for their chiefs in my 

 waggon ; and right faithfully they performed their task. 



When Sekhomi, the Bermangueato chief, became aware of our intentions to 

 pass into the regions beyond him, with true native inhumanity he sent men be- 

 fore us to drive away all the bushmen and Bakalihari from our route, in order 

 that, being deprived of their assistance in the search for water, we might, like 

 the Griquas above mentioned, be compelled to return. This measure deprived 

 me of the opportunity of holding the intercourse with these poor outcasts I 

 might otherwise have enjoyed. But through the good providence of God, after 

 travelling about 300 miles from Kolobeng, we struck on a magnificent river 

 on the 4th of July, and without further difiiculty, in so far as water was con- 

 cerned, by winding along its banks nearly 300 miles more, we reached the 

 Batavana, on the lake Ngami, by the beginning of August. 



Previous to leaving this beautiful river on my return home, and commencing 

 our route across the desert, I feel anxious to furnish you with the impressions 

 produced on my mind by it and its inhabitants, the Bakoba or Bayeiye. They 

 are a totally distinct race from the Bechuanas. They call themselves Bayeiye 

 (or men), while the term Bakoba (the name has somewhat of the meaning of 

 " slaves,") is applied to them by the Bechuanas. Their complexion is darker 

 than that of the Bechuanas ; and, of 300 words I collected of their languge, 

 only 21 bear any resemblance to Sitchuana. They paddle along the ^rivers 

 and lake in canoes hollowed out of the trunks of single trees ; take fish in nets 

 made of a weed which abounds on the banks ; and kill hippopotami with 



