OBSTACLES TO THE SETTLEMENT OF EUROPEANS. 47 1 



and more speedily fatal than here ; for from 8° south 

 they almost invariably take the intermittent or least 

 fatal type ; and their effect being to enlarge the spleen, 

 a complaint which is best treated by change of climate, 

 we have the remedy at hand by passing the 20th parallel 

 on our way south. But I am not to be understood as 

 intimating that any of the numerous tribes are anxious 

 for instruction : they are not the inquiring spirits we 

 read of in other countries ; they do not desire the gospel, 

 because they know nothing about either it, or its benefits ; 

 but there is no impediment in the way of instruction. 

 Every head-man would be proud of a European visitor 

 or resident in his territory, and there is perfect security 

 for life and property all over the interior country. The 

 great barriers which have kept Africa .shut are the un- 

 healthiness of the coast, and the exclusive, illiberal 

 disposition of the border tribes. It has not within the 

 historic period been cut into by deep arms of the sea, 

 and only a small fringe of its population have come into 

 contact with the rest of mankind. Race has much to do 

 in the present circumstances of nations ; yet it is probable 

 that the unhealthy coast-climate has reacted on the people, 

 and aided both in perpetuating their own degradation, 

 and preventing those more inland from having intercourse 

 with the rest of the world. It is to be hoped that these 

 obstacles will be overcome by the more rapid means of 

 locomotion possessed in the present age. if a good highway 

 can become available from the coast into the interior. 



Having found it impracticable to open up a carriage- 

 path to the west, it became a question to which part 

 of the east coast we should direct our steps. The Arabs 

 had come from Zanzibar through a peaceful country. 

 They assured me that the powerful chiefs beyond the 

 Cazembe on the N.E., viz. Moatutu, Moaroro, and Mogogo, 

 chiefs of the tribes Batutu, Baroro, and Bagogo, would 

 have no objection to my passing through their country. 

 They described the population there, as located in small 

 villages like the Balonda, and that no difficulty is ex- 

 perienced in travelling amongst them. They mentioned 

 also that, at a distance of ten days beyond Cazembe, their 

 path winds round the end of Lake Tanganyenka. But when 

 they reach this lake a little to the north-west of its southern 

 extremity, they find no difficulty in obtaining canoes 

 to carry them over. They sleep on islands, for it is said 



