426 
TIIE AUTHOR’S OBJECTS. 
position and influenced tho hearts of both black and white 
to regard me with favor. 
If tho reader has accompanied me thus far, ho may per- 
haps bo disposed to take an intorost in tho objects I pro- 
pose to mysolf should God mercifully grant mo tho honor 
of doing something more for Africa. As tho highlands 
on tho borders of the central basin are comparatively 
healthy, the first object seems to bo to sccuro a permanent 
path thither, in order that Europeans may pass as quickly 
as possible through tho unhealthy region near tho coast 
Tho river has not been surveyed, but at tho timo I came 
down there was abundance of water for a largo vessel ; and 
this continues to be the case during four or five months of 
each year. Tho months of low water still admit of naviga- 
tion by launches, and would permit small vessels equal to 
tho Thames steamers to ply with ease in tho deep channel. 
If a steamer were sent to oxamino the Zambesi, I would 
recommend one of tho lightest draught, and the months of 
May, Juno, and July for passing through tho delta; and 
this not so much for fear of want of water as tho danger 
of being grounded on a sand or mud bank and tho health 
of tho crow being ondangored by tho delay. 
In tho montlm referred to, no obstruction would bo in- 
curred in tho channel below Toto. Twenty or thirty miles 
above that point wo 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, wo have, 
in round numbers, three hundred miles of navigablo rivor. 
Above this rapid wo have another reach of three hundrod 
miles, with sand, but no mud-banks in it, which brings ui 
to tho foot of tho eastern ridge. Let it not, howovor, be 
thought that a vessel by going thither would return laden 
with ivory and gold-dust. Tho Portuguese of Toto pick up 
all tho merchandise of tho tribes in their vicinity ; and, 
though I camo out by traversing tho peoplo with whom the 
Portuguese had been at war, it docs not follow that it will 
be perfectly safo for others to go in whoso goods may be » 
