SOUTH AFRICA FIFTY YEARS AGO 27 



At that time Oswell with his companion Murray allied 

 themselves with Livingstone to discover a reported lake of the 

 unknown interior, together with Mrs. Livingstone and their 

 infantine family. This expedition was at the private cost of 

 Oswell and Murray ; but, in grateful remembrance of the assist- 

 ance rendered by Livingstone in communicating with the natives 

 and in originating the exploration, Oswell sent him a present of 

 a new waggon and a span of splendid oxen (sixteen animals), 

 in addition to a thorough outfit for his personal require- 

 ments. 



Livingstone, in the 'Zambesi and its Tributaries,' dwelt 

 forcibly upon the obligation imposed upon him by Oswell's 

 generosity ; but, having submitted the manuscript to his friend 

 for revision, Oswell insisted upon disclaiming the title of a 

 benefactor. After the discovery of the Lake 'Ngami by Living- 

 stone and his party, Oswell received the medal of the French 

 Geographical Society ; he was therefore allied with Livingstone, 

 who was the first explorer of modern times to direct attention 

 to the lake system of Africa, which has been developed within 

 the last forty years by successive travellers. 



Oswell was not merely a shooter, but he had been attracted 

 towards Africa by his natural love of exploration, and the 

 investigation of untrodden ground. He was absolutely the 

 first white man who had appeared upon the scene in many 

 portions of South Africa which are now well known. His 

 character, which combined extreme gentleness with utter 

 recklessness of danger in the moment of emergency, added to 

 complete unselfishness, ensured him friends in every society ; 

 but it attracted the native mind to a degree of adoration. As 

 the first-comer among lands and savage people until then un- 

 known, he conveyed an impression so favourable to the white 

 man that he paved the way for a welcome to his successors. 

 That is the first duty of an explorer ; and in this Oswell well 

 earned the proud title of a ' Pioneer of Civilisation.' 



As these few lines are not a biography, but merely a faint 

 testimony to one whose only fault was the shadowing of his 



