i.] THE HISTORICAL ASPECT. 59 



the results of such investigations to the world. Even sup- 

 posing any one had done this, we may almost say that no 

 one else would return to encounter new fatigues and dangers, 

 and possibly certain death. Dr Livingstone himself settles 

 this interesting question in the following quotation from the 

 letter, addressed to Sir R. I. Murchison, dated 4th March, 

 1856, from Tete. 



" It may be proper to refer to what has bten done in for- 

 mer times in the way of crossing the continent, though my 

 inquiries lead to the belief that the honour belongs to our 

 country. The Portuguese invariably applaud any little ebul- 

 lition of patriotic feeling they observe in me, and 1 cannot but 

 participate in their feelings, when in the history of Angola 

 proud mention is made of the brave attempt of Captain Jose 

 da Itoza, in 1 678, to penetrate from Benguela to the Kio da 

 Senna (Zambesi). He was forced to retire after exploring a 

 large tract of Dew country. In 1860 the project was again 

 revived by the energetic Dr Lacerda, who recommended the 

 erection of a chain of forts along the banks of the Coanza, 

 whereby to effect a line of communication between the west 

 and east coasts. This shewed a mistaken idea of the source of 

 the Coanza, as it arises near Bihe, west of the western ridge. 

 But a communication having been made a few years afterwards 

 by some native traders with the Moluas (Balonda), the go- 

 vernment of Angola was gratified in 1815 by the arrival of 

 two persons (feirantes pretos), named Pedro Jaoa Baptists 

 and Antonio Jose, with letters from the governor of Mozam- 

 bique, ' proving thereby/ as stated in the government docu- 

 ment of the day, c the possibility of so important a communi- 

 cation.' Certain Arabs too, a few years before my visit to 

 Loanda, came from the opposite coast to Benguela, and with 

 a view to improve the event the government of Angola offered 

 one million of reis (about 142/.), and an honorary captaincy in 

 the Portuguese army, to any one who would accompany them 

 back, but no one went. The journey will now be performed 

 by Ben Habib. Pereira, and others, visited Cazembe, and 



