LIVINGSTONE ON THE ZAMBESI 
325 
Eastern Africa, a lake of such extent and character as to alone justify 
the existence and work of the expedition. 
On his arrival at Kongone, Bishop Mackenzie was all anxiety to 
proceed at once to the Shire. But as the “Pioneer” was under orders 
to explore the Rovuma River, with a view to ascertaining whether an 
alternative water route to the Nyassa existed, and there being no otherj 
boat available, his immediate departure was impossible. The Bishop 
finally agreed to accompany Livingstone in his trip up the Rovuma. 
While on the Rovuma the “Pioneer” proved to draw too much 
water for the tortuous and frequently shallow reaches of African 
rivers. On the Shire, to which it afterwards proceeded, this defect 
came out in startling prominence. Many a time she grounded where 
a vessel drawing but a few inches less would have passed with ease. 
On one occasion a whole fortnight was employed in getting her ofif a 
bank of drifting sand, which she had only just grazed. 
In ascending the Shire, Livingstone realized a truth of which, 
both then and ever since, the exploration of Africa has yielded 
abundant proof. Too often, if not invariably, the pluck and suffering 
of the traveler in opening up new routes and discovering contented if 
ignorant races have been ill rewarded by the immediate result. For 
in his steps have come the Arab and half-caste traders, and guided by 
his discoveries they have laid waste the smiling fields, burnt the vil¬ 
lages and towns, and carried off the people in chains to be sold as 
slaves. Throughout Central Africa this rule has obtained. The 
advance of the Arabs from the coast has practically depopulated vast 
tracts of the interior, and even the development of the Congo Free 
State has not been an unmixed blessing. The Arabs, taking advantage 
of European philanthropy, have actually been helped in their trade in 
slaves by the advantages which the great commercial highway has 
placed in their hands. 
With deep disappointment Livingstone piloted the combined 
forces of the expedition and mission up the Shire. When near the 
Murchison Cataracts they met, Livingstone says, “a long line of mana¬ 
cled men, women, and children. The black owners, armed with 
muskets and bedecked with various articles of finery, marched jauntily 
in the front, middle, and rear of the line; some of them blowing exul- 
