4 
Central Africa. 
own age, they knew not what it was, more than idiots. 
Above all, they had not the least idea of God, or of a future ' 
state. They were literally like the beasts which perish." 
Only during the past few years have missionary stations 
been planted here and there, from which have radiated 
some few beams of Gospel light ; while, in other instances, 
the instructions and examples of missionary explorers, have 
produced some appreciable, though necessarily small results, 
among the tribes through whom they travelled. 
The very darkness and mystery of this vast region have 
attracted many brave spirits, eager to explore the secrets of 
these fastnesses of Nature, in the interests of science, or 
missions. The lonely forests, mighty rivers, inland lakes, 
and unknown dangers of this tropical land, have exercised 
a powerful fascination over a multitude of travellers ; and 
one after another, they have encountered dangers, dared 
death, and suffered untold perils, to add to the scanty infor- 
mation already possessed concerning this land. High on 
the roll of fame stand the names of Livingstone, Speke, 
Stanley, Grant, Baker, Gordon, Cameron, Burton, Elton, 
Schweinfurth, Petherick, Serpa Pinto, Kirk, Long, and 
Tinne. The story of travel told by each of these explorers, 
bears witness to the danger of the undertaking, and the 
bravery exhibited. Some of these travellers were accom- 
panied by their wives, who bore with fortitude, their full 
share of toil and hardship ; some explorers lay down and 
died, being conquered by difficulties, fever, and exhaustion ; 
while others have returned to tell us of the wonderful physi- 
cal features of that far-off country, and the savage darkness 
of its people. 
By Central Africa, we mean particularly the region of 
country lying between the Sahara Desert and the Zambesi 
River, and bounded by the Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, 
