THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 333 



To give expression to his wishes he wrote several papers to the 

 English Geographical Society, and proposed an expedition to the 

 Zambesi, with the avowed double intention of promoting com- 

 mercial intercourse with the interior natives and suppressing, as 

 far as possible, the infamous slave-trade, which flourished 

 throughout Africa to the disgrace of the civilized world. He 

 also wished to make the Zambesi a highway by which commerce 

 and Christianity could pass into the interior of the country. 



A considerable fund was raised, one gentleman contributing 

 $5,000, to aid the expedition, which was organized and set sail 

 on the 10th of March, 1858. Livingstone was accompanied by 

 his wife, also his brother Charles, and Dr. Kirk, superintendent 

 of the Kew Gardens, London. They embarked on the steamer 

 Pearl, and carried with them a steam launch, in sections. Arriv- 

 ing at the mouth of the Zambesi, the launch was put together, 

 and in this an ascent of the river was begun. Owing to several 

 sand-bars in the lower end of the Zambesi, after penetrating a 

 few miles it was found that a lateral stream, named the Kongone, 

 was more easily navigated, and into this the launch was turned. 

 The banks of this stream, which is a branch of the Zambesi, 

 were lined with a profusion of tropical growth, mangroves, 

 screw-palms, and climbing plants, which imparted a most pictur- 

 esque and charming view. 



LAUGHING RATS. 



ONE hundred miles from the Zambesi's mouth Livingstone 

 discovered the river Shire, which was such a considerable stream 

 that he ascended it several hundred miles, until he entered a large 

 lake, to which he gave the name Nyassa. He coasted the lake a 

 distance of nearly two hundred miles, and found it to be a basin 

 into which a great portion of Central Africa is drained. He 

 found the slave-trade flourishing here to a fearful extent, pro- 

 moted by continual wars, in which all prisoners on either side 

 were reduced to slavery. Criminals were also sold into slavery. 



From, Lake Nyassa the expedition returned down the Shire to 

 Mazaro, where they camped two days, preparatory to following 

 up the Zambesi. During this stop they were grievously annoyed 



