202 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. x. 



added to that feat the journey from the Atlantic Ocean 

 at Loanda to the Indian Ocean at Quilimane, and during 

 his several journeys had travelled over not less than 

 eleven thousand miles of African ground. Surpassing the 

 French missionary travellers, Hue and Gabet, he had 

 determined, by astronomical observations, the site of 

 numerous places, hills, rivers, and lakes, previously 

 unknown. He had seized every opportunity of describing 

 the physical structure, geology, and climatology of the 

 countries traversed, and making known their natural 

 products and capabilities. He had ascertained by experi- 

 ence, what had been only conjectured previously, that the 

 interior of Africa was a plateau intersected by various 

 lakes and rivers, the waters of which escaped to the 

 Eastern and Western Oceans by deep rents in the flanking 

 hills. Great though these achievements were, the most 

 honourable of all Livingstone's acts had yet to be men- 

 tioned — the fidelity that kept his promise to the natives, 

 who having accompanied him to St. Paul de Loanda, 

 were reconducted by him from that city to their homes. 



" Rare fortitude and virtue must our medallist have possessed, 

 when, having struggled at the imminent risk of his life through such 

 obstacles, and when, escaping from the interior, he had been received 

 with true kindness by our old allies the Portuguese at Angola, he nobly 

 resolved to redeem his promise and retrace his steps to the interior of 

 the vast continent ! How much indeed must the influence of the 

 British name be enhanced throughout Africa, when it has been 

 promulgated that our missionary has thus kept his plighted word to 

 the poor natives who faithfully stood by him !" 



On receiving the medal, Livingstone apologised for 

 his rustiness in the use of his native tongue ; said that 

 he had only done his duty as a Christian missionary in 

 opening up a part of Africa to the sympathy of Christen- 

 dom : that Steele, Yardon, or Oswell might have done all 

 that he had done ; that as yet he was only buckling on 

 his armour, and therefore in no condition to speak 

 boastfully ; and that the enterprise would never be 



