322 
SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON’S ADDRESS. [May 24, 1858. 
cerning the medicinal plants of the banks of the Zambesi. He has 
further written to the Chamber of Commerce of Manchester, inform- 
ing them that the cotton shrub grows close to his house on the 
mainland, opposite Mozambique, and that he has already stimulated 
some of the influential residents to clear a considerable space of 
ground for its cultivation. As the climate and soil are peculiarly 
favourable to the culture of the cotton plant, he requests that seeds 
of the three well-known varieties should be sent to him, in which 
case he proposes to send the “ Nankin ” and “ Green seed ” varieties 
up the Zambesi, and far into the interior, and to reserve the “ sea- 
island cotton ” for culture on the coast ; the sandy soil being better 
adapted for this variety, the growth of which would be favoured 
by the saline breezes of Mozambique. 
In pursuing researches like these, and in thus preparing the way 
for the great improvement of South-Eastern Africa, which the 
mission of Livingstone is to carry further out, it is refreshing to 
find our Consul so zealously and cordially aided by the Governor- 
General of Mozambique, not only in all objects tending to the 
suppression of the slave-trade, the improvement of commerce, and 
the increase of material prosperity, but also in many scientific re- 
searches. Among these may be numbered a series of observations 
on the currents of the Mozambique Channel, for the determination 
of which the Consul has prepared a thousand copies of a printed 
circular, with explanations in four languages, which he delivers 
to captains of vessels sailing to the Mauritius, Port Natal, the 
Cape, Zanzibar, Johanna, and Bombay, whilst the Port Captain 
furnishes him with extracts of the logs of the vessels arriving — so 
collecting materials for wind and current charts, on the plan of 
Lieut. Maury. When I add that Mr. Lyons M‘Leod is keeping 
a meteorological register on the mainland, whilst the Governor- 
General keeps one on the island of Mozambique, and that he has 
steadily made magnetic observations, you will all agree with me 
that our Associate is a person well qualified, by his energy and 
capacity, to extend the benefits of commerce, science, and civili- 
sation on the East Coast of Africa. 
I am not indeed without hopes that the range of the usefulness 
of this active Consul may be extended along the East Coast ; and 
that, seeing the importance of establishing regular communication 
and intercourse between Natal on the south, and the rich Somauli 
provinces of the Imaum of Muscat on the north, our merchants may 
drive an extensive and lucrative trade, a considerable part of which, 
