632 UVINGSTONK'S OBJECTS. 



when discovered will, like the electric telegraph, bind men 

 more closely together — soldiers battling for the right 

 against tyranny — sailors rescuing the victims of oppression 

 from the grasp of heartless men-stealers — merchants 

 teaching the nations lessons of mutual dependence — and 

 many others, as well as missionaries, all work in the 

 same direction, and all efforts are overruled for one 

 glorious end. 



If the reader has accompanied me thus far, he may 

 perhaps be disposed to take an interest in the objects I 

 propose to myself, should God mercifully grant me the 

 honour of doing something more for Africa. As the 

 highlands on the borders of the central basin are com- 

 paratively healthy, the first object seems to be to secure a 

 permanent path thither, in order that Europeans may 

 pass as quickly as possible through the unhealthy region 

 near the coast. The river has not been surveyed, but at 

 the time I came down there was abundance of water for 

 a large vessel, and this continues to be the case during 

 four or five months of each year. The months of low- 

 water still admit of navigation by launches, and would 

 permit small vessels equal to the Thames steamers to ply 

 with ease in the deep channel. If a steamer were sent to 

 examine the Zambesi, I would recommend one of the 

 lightest draught, and the months of May, June, and July 

 for passing through the delta ; and this not so much for 

 fear of want of water, as the danger of being grounded on 

 a sand or mud-bank, and the health of the crew being 

 endangered by the delay. 



In the months referred to, no obstruction would be 

 incurred in the channel below Tete. Twenty or thirty 

 miles above that point we have a small rapid, of which I 

 regret my inability to speak, as (mentioned already) I did 

 not visit it. But taking the distance below this point, we 

 have, in round numbers, 300 miles of navigable river. 

 Above this rapid we have another reach of 300 miles, with 

 sand, but no mudbanks in it, which brings us to the foot 

 of the eastern ridge. Let it not, however, be thought that 

 a vessel by going thither would return laden with ivory 

 and gold-dust. The Portuguese of Tete pick up all the 

 merchandize of the tribes in their vicinity, and, though I 

 came out by traversing the people with whom the Portu- 

 guese have been at war, it does not follow that it will be 

 perfectly safe for others to go in whose goods may be a 



