1858-59.] FIRST EXPLORATIONS OF THE SHIRE. 259 



discoverers ; Dr. Roscher, on whose behalf a claim was 

 subsequently made, was two months later, and his unfor- 

 tunate murder by the natives made it doubtful at what 

 point he reached the lake. The discovery of Lake 

 Nyassa, as well as Lake Shirwa, was of immense import- 

 ance, because they were both parallel to the ocean, and 

 the whole traffic of the regions beyond must pass by this 

 line. The configuration of the Shire valley, too, was 

 favourable to colonisation. The valley occupied three 

 different levels. First there was a plahi on the level of 

 the river, like that of the Nile, close and hot. Rising 

 above this to the east there was another plain, 2000 feet 

 high, three or four miles broad, salubrious and pleasant. 

 Lastly, there was a third plain 3000 feet above the 

 second, positively cold. To find such varieties of climate 

 within a few miles of each other was most interesting. 



In other respects the region opened up was remark- 

 able. There was a great amount of fertile land, and the 

 products were almost endless. The people were indus- 

 trious ; in the upper Shire", notwithstanding a great love 

 of beer, they lived usually to a great age. Cleanliness 

 was not a universal virtue ; the only way in which the 

 Expedition could get rid of a troublesome follower was 

 by threatening to wash him. The most disagreeable 

 thing in the appearance of the women was their lip- 

 ornament, consisting of a ring of ivory or tin, either 

 hollow or made into a cup, inserted in the upper lip. 

 Dr. Livingstone used to give full particulars of this fear- 

 ful practice, having the idea that the taste of ladies at 

 home in dress and ornament was not free from similar 

 absurdity ; or, as he wrote at this time to the Royal 

 Geographical Society of Vienna, in acknowledging the 

 honour of being made a corresponding member, — "be- 

 cause our own ladies, who show so much virtuous perse- 

 verance with their waists may wish to try lip ornament 

 too." In regard to the other sex, he informed the same 



