THE DESICCATION OF AFRICA 
145 
Since Livingstone’s day the process of desiccation has not 
abated in the south-central plateau of Africa, but In news 
from South Africa I have lately heard that Bechuanaland is 
again being used as pasture land by white settlers — this 
being possible owing to very extensive water-boring operations 
for watering stock. 
From 1894 to 1908 I travelled through several of the 
districts mentioned above, with Livingstone and others for 
reference, but did not know enough to grasp the magnitude 
of the subject until I went north of the Zambesi in 1908. The 
above extracts are from the Library books. 
My observations then extended to Lake Nyasa, south end 
and western side ; the Loangwa Valley, nearly whole length ; 
Lake Tanganyika, south end ; Lake Mweru, north-east and 
south shores, including the Luapula river ; Lake Bangueulu, 
almost right round ; and Chambezi river (extreme source of 
Congo), which rises at Mt. Sunzu near Abercorn (South Tan- 
ganyika District), south side of Nyasa, Tanganyika plateau 
ridge. In every direction the words of Moffat, Oswell, Vardon, 
Livingstone, Harris, Selous, and other early South African 
travellers could be applied, almost word for word, with certain 
reservations. My notes were mentioned in my reports to the 
Chartered Company, 1908 to 1906, when I was investigating 
the distribution of Tsetse, Game, Native Products, Timber, &c. 
The Loangwa Valley . — This valley, which is roughly forty 
miles wide by four hundred miles long north to south, dis- 
charges into the Zambesi. For two-thirds of its upper length 
it affords clear evidence of having held large areas of water 
for long periods. This is supported by the existence of miles 
and miles of old lake shores composed of well-rolled and water- 
worn stones and pebbles, which can be traced for great distances 
in the thorn bush at distances of sixteen to twenty miles from 
the present sandy bed of the dwindling river. 
Mr. W. P. Kenelly (who was then Native Commissioner of 
the District) and myself traced some of these old shores for 
miles through the dry thorn bush country. They have in 
many places been cut through by sandy stream beds, which now 
never hold running water, only rain season pools. Nawalia 
Bowa, sixteen miles from the river, was an excellent point for 
