426 THE AUTHOR S OBJECTS. 



position and influenced the hearts of both black and white 

 to regard me with favor. 



If the reader has accompanied me thus far, he may per- 

 haps be disposed to take an interest in the objects I pro- 

 pose to myself should God mercifully grant me the honoi 

 of doing- something more for Africa. As the highlands 

 on the borders of the central basin are comparatively 

 healthy, the first object seems to be to secure a permanent 

 path thither, in order that Europeans may pass as quickly 

 as possible through the unhealthy region near the coast. 

 The river has not been surveyed, but at the time I came 

 down there was abundance of water for a large vessel; and 

 this continues to be the case during four or five months of 

 each year. The months of low water still admit of naviga- 

 tion by launches, and would permit small vessels equal to 

 the Thames steamers to ply with ease in the deep channel. 

 If a steamer were sent to examine the Zambesi, I would 

 recommend one of the lightest draught, and the months of 

 May, June, and July for passing through the delta; and 

 this not so much for fear of want of water as the danger 

 of being grounded on a sand or mud bank and the health 

 of the crew being endangered by the delay. 



In the months referred to, no obstruction would be in- 

 curred in the channel below Tete. Twenty or thirty miles 

 above that point we have a small rapid, of which I regret 

 my inability to speak, as (mentioned already) I did not 

 visit it. But, taking the distance below this point, we have, 

 in round numbers, three hundred miles of navigable river. 

 Above this rapid we have another reach of three hundred 

 miles, with sand, but no mud-banks in it, which brings us 

 to the foot of the eastern ridge. Let it not, however, be 

 thought that a vessel by going thither would return laden 

 with ivory and gold-dust. The Portuguese of Tete pick up 

 all the merchandise of the tribes in their vicinity ; and, 

 though I came out by traversing the people with whom the 

 Portuguese had been at war, it does not follow that it will 

 be perfectly safe for others to go in whose goods may be a 



