Introduction. 
5 
mountainous country of great beauty and fertility, 
and in the possession of a most interesting people. 
In addition to these personal explorations, the mis- 
sionaries gathered a vast amount of information from 
the natives regarding the far interior, particularly 
of certain vast lakes, or as they were then designated, 
"inland seas." Maps embodying this information 
were drawn up and presented to the public. Geo- 
graphers were taken by surprise. Beautiful lakes and 
fertile lands now took the place of scorching sands 
and desert wastes ! Ptolemy was taken from the 
shelf and pored over as he had never been before. 
There were those who thought they saw in these 
lakes the coy sources" of the Nile. The mystery of 
ages was to be solved. Exciting discussions ensued ; 
discussions which did not end in mere words ; some- 
thing was to be done, and something was done. 
Captains Burton and Speke were sent to the "lake 
regions the pubHc knows with what result. Another 
expedition followed, under Captains Speke and Grant 
^ These gentlemen, with indomitable courage, made a 
track from Zanzibar to Egypt, one of the most mar- 
vellous feats of modern exploration. Then followed the 
work of Baker. Lastly we have the greatest traveller 
of them all, the Rev. Dr. Livingstone, now plodding 
away at the core of the matter, suffering and doing 
untold things, with a fair prospect, it is hoped, of settling 
the great problems at issue, and of opening a door 
through which Christianity and civilization may pro- 
ceed to the very heart of Africa. All this is the result 
of the " hapless Mombas mission." 
Dr. Krapf left the east coast of Africa in 1853, 
leaving Mr. Rebmann in charge of the mission. 
