MAP OF WEST CENTRAL AFRICA: 
At the request of the Royal Geographical Society Mr. Arnot read a paper, 
briefly describing his travels in Africa ; and the Society specially prepared a 
map to accompany this paper, which was printed in their Proceedings for 
February, 1889. They have kindly allowed the use of their plate for the 
reproduction of the map, which appears at the end of this volume, and forms 
a very valuable addition to it. Not only does it show clearly Mr. Arnot's 
routes, but also the recent discoveries of well-known African travellers, such as 
Commander Cameron, the Portuguese officers,' Serpa Pinto, Capello, and 
Ivens, and Herr Reichard. Livingstone's journey from the Zambesi to 
Loanda, which attracted Mr. Arnot's attention to this part of Africa, is also 
marked. 
Though this is only a sketch-map, Mr. Arnot not having instruments for 
ascertaining latitude and longitude, he carefully noted his course by compass, 
and also the daily distances accomplished. The small map of South Africa 
(in the corner) shows both his journeys — the one across the Continent from 
Natal to Benguella by the Barotse Valley ; and the other from Benguella to 
Garenganze, which was retraced on his return, with some variations. The 
larger map gives the routes from Lealui to the West Coast, and thence to 
Garenganze, on a much enlarged scale. From Peho to the Garenganze capital 
was over fresh ground, and the names of many new places and rivers can now 
be identified. The true course of the first part of the Zambesi River has also 
been ascertained as running from east to west. As in the case of the two 
great rivers of China, it is found that the sources of the Zambesi and Congo 
lie close together, although their courses widely diverge, the former emptying 
itself on the East Coast, and the latter on the West. The remarkable hill that 
Mr. Arnot calls Border Craig indicates, he believes, one of the earliest sources 
of both rivers, though he has not traced them out. 
The southern limit of the Congo Free State is determined by the sources of 
that great river, and though it has been hitherto laid down on maps by con- 
jecture only, we are now able to say how far the Free State extends southward 
according to its natural boundary. It includes the large kingdom of Garenganze 
— probably larger than England and Wales — but as yet king Msidi scarcely 
knows that he is a vassal of the Free State. 
Connected with the mention of this king we may refer to the difficulty of 
spelling African names. As towns are called after the ruling chiefs, there is a 
constant change in their names, and owing to the variety of tribes there is 
great diversity in pronunciation. For instance, Msidi's name has been spelt 
Msiri, Muxide, Moshide, Muside. Through M, Giraud he has beconie widely 
known as "Msiri," which Mr. Arnot says is not correct, but to prevent 
confusion he seeks to approach as nearly as possible to this, and calls him 
Msidi, a name which very frequently occurs in this volume. — Ed. 
