42 LECTURE II. 



wheat also grows there well. This climate is, therefore, 

 not open to the usual objection that Europeans could 

 not live there. Some of the elevations in this part are 

 about 5000 feet above the level of the sea. The 

 country hereabout is one of gradual elevation ; still 

 there are different climates, ridges, and elevations, and 

 the heat at times very great; the high-lands generally 

 are cool and salubrious, and fit for European residence. 

 The Zambesi was full when I passed it, but even 

 at low water it was as deep as the Thames in 

 London, and therefore, might be traversed by a tolerably 

 sized steamer. At the junction of other rivers with the 

 Zambesi there is a rapid, and the coal-field to which I 

 have alluded is near it; but the river is otherwise free 

 from obstruction, and I trust will be the means of con- 

 veying the productions of that country to this, and thus 

 opening the way for commerce and civilization to the 

 benighted Africans upon its banks. 



The people of the interior are very desirous to hold 

 intercourse with white men. Having been cradled in 

 wars' alarms, they ask, " When will you bring us sleep V 

 " We want sleep! 1 ' meaning peace. One reason of 

 my being well received in the country was, because it 

 had got noised abroad that I had come for that purpose. 

 One report told to the Portuguese governor at Tete was, 

 " That the Son of God was coming, with the moon under 

 his arm," alluding to me and my sextant. Several depu- 

 tations from towns and villages in the interior, in waiting 



