718 DEVELOPING EESOUKCES OF INTEEIOK. 



are vast numbers of good people in the world, and I do most 

 devoutly tender my unfeigned thanks to that Gracious One who 

 mercifully watched over me in every position, and influenced the 

 hearts of both black and white to regard me with favor. 



With the united testimony of Captain Parker and Lieutenant 

 Hoskins, added to my own observation, there can be no reason- 

 able doubt but that the real mouth of the Zambesi is available 

 for the purposes of commerce. The delta is claimed by the 

 Portuguese, and the southern bank of the Luabo, or Cuama, as 

 this part of the Zambesi is sometimes called, is owned by inde- 

 pendent natives of the Caffre family. The Portuguese are thus 

 near the main entrance to the new central region ; and as they 

 have of late years shown, in an enlightened and liberal spirit, 

 their desire to develop the resources of Eastern Africa by pro- 

 claiming Mozambique a free port, it is to be hoped that the same 

 spirit will lead them to invite mercantile enterprise up the Zam- 

 besi, by offering facilities to those who may be led to push com- 

 merce into the regions lying far beyond their territory. Their 

 wish to co-operate in the noble work of developing the resources 

 of the rich country beyond could not be shown better than by 

 placing a village with Zambesian pilots at the harbor of Mitilone, 

 and erecting a light-house for the guidance of seafaring men. If 

 this were done, no nation would be a greater gainer by it than 

 the Portuguese themselves, and assuredly no other needs a resus- 

 citation of its commerce more. Their kindness to me personally 

 makes me wish for a return of their ancient prosperity ; and 

 the most liberal and generous act of the enlightened young king 

 H. M. Don Pedro, in sending out orders to support my late 

 companions at the public expense of the province of Mozam- 

 bique until my return to claim them, leads me to hope for 

 encouragement in every measure for either the development of 

 commerce, the elevation of the natives, or abolition of the trade in 

 slaves. 



As far as I am myself concerned, the opening of the new 

 central country is a matter for congratulation only in so far as it 

 opens up a prospect for the elevation of the inhabitants. As 

 I have elsewhere remarked, I view the end of the geographical 

 feat as the beginning of the missionary enterprise. I take the 

 latter term in its most extended signification, and include every 



