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and his followers heard the roaring of the water at that distance, 

 though he was not sure of doing so himself. 



Comparing the Falls with those of Niagara, Livingstone 

 points out that they are twice the height of the latter ; whilst in 

 the amount of water Niagara probably excels, though not during 

 the months when the Zambesi is in flood. 



It is unfortunate that no general view of the Falls, except a 

 bird's-eye view from the high ground some miles distant, can be 

 obtained, owing to the vegetation on the south side of the fissure, 

 and the dense clouds of spray rising from the chasm. But for 

 this, says Chapman, the Victoria Falls, presenting one unobstructed 

 view, would not only have been the most magnificent, but the 

 most stupendous, sight of the kind on the face of the globe. No 

 wonder, then, that Oates should have been fired with a longing to 

 visit them. 



We have referred to the difficulties which he encountered ere 

 he accomplished this, and to the several attempts and failures 

 which only served, it would seem, to stimulate him to still further 

 effort. Under all these difficulties, however, he found much to 

 divert him in an observant study of the animals and plants, 

 of which some new form was daily presenting itself to his eyes. 

 His devotion to Natural History beguiled throughout his journey 

 what might otherwise have proved many a weary march. He 

 found opportunity not only to note the various species met with 

 along the route, so far as he or his companions were able to 

 identify them, but also to make collections which, on future 

 examination by specialists at home, were found to contain several 

 new and undescribed species. Indeed, the Appendix to this 

 volume, which contains Reports by well-known naturalists on the 

 various collections made by Frank Oates, may be regarded as the 

 most valuable portion of the book. Thus we have a chapter on 

 Ethnology by the late Professor Rolleston, based on his examina- 

 tion of the crania and other remains of Bushmen collected by 

 Oates ; a chapter on Ornithology by Mr. R. B. Sharpe, in which 

 two new birds are described and figured— a Wood Shrike, Brady- 

 ornis Oatesii, and a Chat, Saxicola Shelleyi. Mr. Sharpe remarks 

 that the collection of birds containing 218 species represents 

 without doubt a very fair idea of the avifauna of the parts of the 

 Transvaal and Matabele countries through which Mr. Oates 

 travelled, and is of great utility by reason of the careful way in 



