LIVINGSTONE ON THE ZAMBESI 325 



Eastern Africa, a lake of such extent and character as to alone justify 

 the existence and work of the expedition. 



On his arrival at Kongone, Bishop Mackenzie was all anxiety to 

 proceed at once to the Shire. But as the "Pioneer" was under orders 

 to explore the Rovuma River, with a view to ascertaining whether an 

 alternative water route to the Nyassa existed, and there being no otherl 

 boat available, his immediate departure was impossible. The Bishop 

 finally agreed to accompany Livingstone in his trip up the Rovuma. 



While on the Rovuma the "Pioneer" proved to draw too much 

 water for the tortuous and frequently shallow reaches of African 

 rivers. On the Shire, to which it afterwards proceeded, this defect 

 came out in startling prominence. Many a time she grounded' where 

 a vessel drawing but a few inches less would have passed with ease. 

 On one occasion a whole fortnight was employed in getting her off a 

 bank of drifting sand, which she had only just grazed. 



In ascending the Shire, Livingstone realized a truth of which, 

 both then and ever since, the exploration of Africa has yielded 

 abundant proof. Too often, if not invariably, the pluck and suffering 

 of the traveler in opening up new routes and discovering contented if 

 ignorant races have been ill rewarded by the immediate result. For 

 in his steps have come the Arab and half-caste traders, and guided by 

 his discoveries they have laid waste the smiling fields, burnt the vil- 

 lages and towns, and carried off the people in chains to be sold as 

 slaves. Throughout Central Africa this rule has obtained. The 

 advance of the Arabs from the coast has practically depopulated vast 

 tracts of the interior, and even the development of the Congo Free 

 State has not been an unmixed blessing. The Arabs, taking advantage 

 of European philanthropy, have actually been helped in their trade in 

 slaves by the advantages which the great commercial highway has 

 placed in their hands. 



With deep disappointment Livingstone piloted the combined 

 forces of the expedition and mission up the Shire. When near the 

 Murchison Cataracts they met, Livingstone says, "a long line of mana- 

 cled men, women, and children. The black owners, armed with 

 muskets and bedecked with various articles of finery, marched jauntily 

 in the front, middle, and rear of the line ; some of them blowing exul- 



