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 
a recklessness of danger in the moment of emergency, added to 
2 complete unselfishness, ensured him friends in every society ; 
a 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 
4 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 
4 _ 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 
Res ee et Laer PRD RAS Le ORIEN Pata ALY Bl OLA PED SSM ies eRe sey 
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