114 REPORT — 1856. 



it the traveller is no longer molested by the Tsetse, or destructive insect. The 

 author speculates, indeed, on the probability of such hilly sanitaria being extended 

 vastly further to the north, and adds, " At present there is the prospect of water- 

 carriage right up to the bottom of the eastern ridge ; and if a quick passage can be 

 effected thither during a healthy part of the season, there is, I presume, a prospect 

 of residence in localities very superior to those on the coast." The deltas betvsreen 

 such hilly districts and the shores of the eastern as well as of the western oceans, 

 are, on the contrary, described as the most unhealthy of all the tracts examined. 



The third letter, much of which was read to the Meeting, gives a general view 

 of the ethnological distinctions and habits of the various tribes among whom he has 

 lived and with whose languages he is so well acquainted, assigning a manifest 

 superiority in bravery and conduct to the hill people, and particularly to the Caffre- 

 Zuluh race. He also explains that the Bible has been nearly all translated into 

 Sechuana, or the dialect of the Bechuanas, the most regularly developed of all the 

 African languages. " Of its capabilities (he adds) you may judge, when I mention 

 that the Pentateuch is fully expressed in considerably fewer words than in the Greek 

 Septuagint, and in a very greatly less number than our verbose English." 



After a sketch of the zoology and natural history of the region, and a record of 

 the prevalent diseases of the people, showing that certain maladies which civilized 

 man cannot eradicate, are often worn out and disappear naturally in South Africa, 

 Dr. Livingston, adverting to previous explorers, and returning his warmest thanks 

 to the Portuguese authorities of Laonda and Tete, modestly expresses his belief that 

 he is the first European who has travelled across Southern Africa in those latitudes, 

 — and having acomplished thus much, he speaks of a visit to his native land, but 

 only with the intention of returning to exercise his sacred calling. He concludes 

 in these words : — " I feel thankful to God who has preserved mv life while so many 

 who would have done more good have been cut off. But I am not so much elated 

 as might have been expected, for the end of the geographical feat is but the beginning 

 of the missionary enterprise. Geographers labouring to make men better acquainted 

 with each other, soldiers fighting against oppression, and sailors rescuing captives in 

 deadly climes, are all, as well as missionaries, aiding in hastening on a glorious con- 

 summation to all God's dealings to man. In the hope that I may yet be permitted 

 to do some good to this poor, long trodden-down Africa, the gentlemen over whom 

 you have the honour to preside, will, I doubt not, all cordially join." 



In conclusion. Sir Roderick called attention to the great merits of Dr. Livingston, 

 who had justly been honoured with the adjudication of a Gold Medal of the Royal 

 Geographical Society, and having also adverted to the extraordinary and extensive 

 travels of Barth in Central Africa, who had received a similar honour, and to the 

 prospect of fresh explorations both up the Niger and from Zanzibar on the east coast, 

 to the mountains from whence the Nile is supposed to flow, he congratulated the 

 assembly on the hope we might now rationally entertain of spreading civilization and 

 Christianity throughout these benighted lands. 



In the absence of detailed maps, and in the expectation of seeing Dr. Livingston 

 soon in England, Sir Roderick forbore to enter into any specific account of the 

 courses of the interior rivers, or to dwell upon data which would in due time be 

 brought before the Geographical Society. 



A New Route to India — the Syro-Arabian Railway. By John Locke. 



This paper suggested a railway from Acre to Busrah, passing the Jordan between 

 the 32nd and 33rd degrees of latitude. The gain in space of this line over the pro- 

 jected Euphratean route was stated to be 400 miles, and in time (making due allow- 

 ance for greater velocity of locomotive than steamer) two days and a half; and over 

 the present overland route of 1000 miles, or six days, which might be increased one 

 day and a half by accelerating the speed in the long level reaches of the Desert, 

 where the traveller can observe at the distance of several miles any object of a size 

 likely to impede or endanger a train. Mr. Locke's paper went to demonstrate the 

 shortness, security and economy (both in time and in cost of construction) of this 

 route. He also pointed out the facilities likely to be afforded by the Ottoman 

 government and the Imaum of Muekat, and especially dwelt on the collateral advan- 



