UVINGSTONE AND "OPENING UP." 63 1 



Lieutenant Hoskins, added to my own observation, there 

 can be no reasonable doubt but that the real mouth of 

 the Zambesi is available for the purposes of commerce. 

 The delta is claimed by the Portuguese, and the southern 

 bank of the Luabo, or Cuama, as this part of the Zambesi 

 is sometimes called, is owned by independent natives of 

 the Caffre family. The Portuguese are thus near the 

 main entrance to the new central region ; and, as they 

 have of late years shown, in an enlightened and liberal 

 spirit, their desire to develop the resources of Eastern 

 Africa by proclaiming Mozambique a free port, it is to be 

 hoped that the same spirit will lead them to invite mer- 

 cantile enterprise up the Zambesi, by offering facilities to 

 those who may be led to push commerce into the regions 

 lying far beyond their territory. Their wish to co-operate 

 in the noble work of developing the resources of the rich 

 country beyond, could not be shown better than by placing 

 a village with Zambesian pilots at the harbour of Mitilone, 

 and erecting a lighthouse for the guidance of seafaring 

 men. If this were done, no nation would be a greater 

 gainer by it than the Portuguese themselves, and assuredly 

 no other needs a resuscitation of its commerce more. 

 Their kindness to me personally makes me wish for a 

 return of their ancient prosperity ; and the most liberal 

 and generous act of the enlightened young king H.M. 

 Don Pedro, in sending out orders to support my late 

 campanions at the public expense of the province of 

 Mozambique until my return to claim them, leads me to 

 hope for encouragement in every measure for either the 

 development of commerce, the elevation of the natives, 

 or abolition of the trade in slaves. 



As far as I am myself concerned, the opening of the 

 new central country is a matter for congratulation only in 

 so far as it opens up a prospect for the elevation of the 

 inhabitants. As I have elsewhere remarked, I view the 

 end of the geographical feat as the beginning of the 

 missionary enterprise. I take the latter term in its most 

 extended signification, and include every effort made for 

 the amelioration of our race ; the promotion of all those 

 means by which God in His providence is working, anc 

 bringing all His dealings with man to a glorious consuni 

 mation. Kach man in his sphere, either knowingly 01 

 unwittingly, is performing the will of our Father in heaven, 

 Men of science, searching after hidden truths, which 



