716 LIFE OF DA YID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



" Now, after our long journey, the Expedition is halted a hundred yards 

 from the lake ; and as I look upon its dancing waters, I long to launch the 

 ' Lady Alice,' and venture out to explore its mysteries. Though on its shore, 

 I am still as ignorant of its configuration and extent as any man in England 

 or America. I have questioned natives of Uchambi closely upon the subject 

 at issue, but no one can satisfy me — though they speak positively — whether 

 the lake is one piece of water or more. I hear a multitude of strange names, 

 but whether they are of countries or lakes it is impossible to divine, for the 

 people's knowledge of geography is very superficial. My impression, how- 

 ever, is that Speke, in his bold sketch and imagined outline, is nearer the 

 truth than Livingstone, who reported upon hearsay at a great distance from 

 its shores. As soon as I can finish my letters the sections of the 'Lady Alice' 

 shall be screwed together; the first English boat that ever sailed on the Afri- 

 can lakes shall venture upon her mission ; and I shall not rest until I have 

 thoroughly explored every nook and cranny of the shores of the Victoria. It 

 is with great pride and pleasure I think of our success in conveying such a 

 large craft safely through the hundreds of miles of jungle which we have tra- 

 versed ; and just now I feel as though the entire wealth of the universe could 

 not bribe me to turn back from my work. Indeed, it is with the utmost im- 

 patience that I contemplate the task of writing my letters before starting 

 upon the more agreeable work of exploring ; but I remember the precept, 

 ' Duty before pleasure.' 



" I hear strange tales about the countries on the shores of this lake, 

 which make me still more eager to start. One man talks about a territory 

 peopled with dwarfs, and another with giants ; while a third is said to pos- 

 sess such a breed of large dogs that even my mastiffs are quite small com- 

 pared to them. All these may be idle romances, and I lay no stress on any- 

 thing reported to me, as I hope to be enabled to see with my own eyes all 

 the wonders of those unknown countries. 



" It is unfortunate that I have not Speke's book with me ; but a map of 

 Central Africa which I carried here contains the statement in brackets that 

 the Victoria Nyanza has an altitude of only 3,308 feet above the ocean. If 

 this statement is on Speke's authority, either he is wrong, or I am, for my 

 two aneroids, almost fresh from England, make it much higher. One ranges 

 from 3,550 to 3,650; the other from 3,575 to 3,675. I have not boiled my 

 thermometers yet, but intend doing so before starting on the work of exploring 

 the lake. I have no reason to suspect that the aneroids are at fault, as they 

 are both first-class instruments, and have been carefully carried with the 

 chronometers. With regard to Speke's position of Muanza, I incline to think 

 that he is right; but, as I have not visited Muanza, I cannot tell. The 

 natives point it out westward of Kagehyi, and but a short distance off. The 

 position of the port of Kagehyi is south latitude 2° 31'., east longitude 33° 13', 



