1853-54.] FROM LINYANTI TO LOAN DA. 169 



points with very great accuracy, and yet he is only a 

 poor missionary." 



Nor did Dr.. Livingstone pass unrewarded in other 

 quarters. In the Geographical Society, his journey to 

 Loanda, of which he sent them an account, excited the 

 liveliest interest. In May 1855, on the motion of Sir 

 Roderick Murchison, the Society testified its appreciation 

 by awarding him their gold medal — the highest honour 

 they had to bestow. The occasion was one of great 

 interest. From the chair, Lord Ellesmere spoke of 

 Livingstone's work in science as but subordinate to those 

 higher ends which he had ever prosecuted in the true 

 spirit of a missionary. The simplicity of his arrangements 

 gave additional wonder to the results. There had just 

 appeared an account of a Portuguese expedition of African 

 exploration from the east coast : — 



"I advert to it," said his Lordship, "to point out the contrast 

 between the two. Colonel Monteiro was the leader of a small army — 

 some twenty Portuguese soldiers, and a hundred and twenty Caffres. 

 The contrast is as great between such military array and the solitary 

 grandeur of the missionary's progress,, as it is between the actual achieve- 

 ments of the two — between the rough knowledge obtained by the Por- 

 tuguese of some three hundred leagues of new country, and the scientific 

 precision with which the unarmed and unassisted Englishman has left 

 his mark on so many important stations of regions hitherto a blank." 



About the time when these words were spoken, Dr. 

 Livingstone was at Cabango on his return journey, recover- 

 ing from a very severe attack of rheumatic fever which 

 had left him nearly deaf ; besides, he was almost blind in 

 consequence of a blow received on the eye from a branch 

 of a tree in riding through the forest. Notwithstanding, 

 he was engaged in writing a despatch to the Geographical 

 Society, through Sir Roderick Murchison, of which more 

 anon, reporting progress, and explaining his views of the 

 structure of Africa. But we must return to Loanda, and 

 set out with him and his Makololo in proper form, on 

 their homeward tour. 



