ByDrDavidLivingstoneMissionaryTravelsandResearchesinSouthAfrica。
Alsocalled,TravelsandResearchesinSouthAfrica;
or,JourneysandResearchesinSouthAfrica。
MissionaryTravelsandResearchesinSouthAfrica;
IncludingaSketchofSixteenYears’ResidenceintheInteriorofAfrica,andaJourneyfromtheCapeofGoodHopetoLoandaontheWestCoast;
ThenceAcrosstheContinent,DowntheRiverZambesi,totheEasternOcean。
ByDavidLivingstone,LL。D。,D。C。L。,FellowoftheFacultyofPhysiciansandSurgeons,Glasgow;
CorrespondingMemberoftheGeographicalandStatisticalSocietyofNewYork;
GoldMedalistandCorrespondingMemberoftheRoyalGeographicalSocietiesofLondonandParisF。S。A。,Etc。,Etc。
Dedication。
ToSIRRODERICKIMPEYMURCHISON,PresidentRoyalGeographicalSociety,F。R。S。,,CorrInstofFrance,andMemberoftheAcademiesofStPetersburg,Berlin,Stockholm,Copenhagen,Brussels,Etc。,ThisWorkisaffectionatelyofferedasaTokenofGratitudeforthekindinteresthehasalwaystakenintheAuthor’spursuitsandwelfare;
andtoexpressadmirationofhiseminentscientificattainments,nowheremorestronglyevidencedthanbythestrikinghypothesisrespectingthephysicalconformationoftheAfricancontinent,promulgatedinhisPresidentialAddresstotheRoyalGeographicSocietyin1852,andverifiedthreeyearsafterwardbytheAuthoroftheseTravels。
WhenhonoredwithaspecialmeetingofwelcomebytheRoyalGeographicalSocietyafewdaysaftermyarrivalinLondoninDecemberlast,SirRoderickMurchison,thePresident,invitedmetogivetheworldanarrativeofmytravels;andatasimilarmeetingoftheDirectorsoftheLondonMissionarySocietyIpubliclystatedmyintentionofsendingabooktothepress,insteadofmakingmanyofthosepublicappearanceswhichwereurgeduponmeThepreparationofthisnarrative*hastakenmuchlongertimethan,frommyinexperienceinauthorship,Ihadanticipated。
*Severalattemptshavingbeenmadetoimposeuponthepublic,asmine,spuriousnarrativesofmytravels,Ibegtotendermythankstotheeditorsofthe`Times’andofthe`Athenaeum’foraidingtoexposethem,andtothebooksellersofLondonforrefusingtoSUBSCRIBE
foranycopies。
Greatersmoothnessofdictionandasavingoftimemighthavebeensecuredbytheemploymentofapersonaccustomedtocompilation;
butmyjournalshavingbeenkeptformyownprivatepurposes,nooneelsecouldhavemadeuseofthem,orhaveenteredwithintelligenceintothecircumstancesinwhichIwasplacedinAfrica,farfromanyEuropeancompanionThosewhohavenevercarriedabookthroughthepresscanformnoideaoftheamountoftoilitinvolves。
Theprocesshasincreasedmyrespectforauthorsandauthoressesathousand-fold。
Icannotrefrainfromreferring,withsentimentsofadmirationandgratitude,tomyfriendThomasMaclear,Esq。,theaccomplishedAstronomerRoyalattheCapeIshallneverceasetorememberhisinstructionsandhelpwithrealgratitudeTheintercourseIhadtheprivilegetoenjoyattheObservatoryenabledmetoformanideaofthealmostinfinitevarietyofacquirementsnecessarytoformatrueandgreatastronomer,andIwasledtotheconvictionthatitwillbelongbeforetheworldbecomesoverstockedwithaccomplishedmembersofthatprofession。
Letthembealwayshonoredaccordingtotheirdeserts;
andlongmayMaclear,Herschel,Airy,andotherslivetomakeknownthewondersandgloryofcreation,andtoaidinrenderingthepathwayoftheworldsafetomariners,andthedarkplacesoftheearthopentoChristians!
IbegtooffermyheartythankstomyfriendSirRoderickMurchison,andalsotoDrNortonShaw,thesecretaryoftheRoyalGeographicalSociety,foraidingmyresearchesbyeverymeansintheirpower。
HisfaithfulmajestyDonPedroV。,havingkindlysentoutorderstosupportmylatecompanionsuntilmyreturn,relievedmymindofanxietyontheiraccountButforthisactofliberality,IshouldcertainlyhavebeencompelledtoleaveEnglandinMaylast;andithasaffordedmethepleasureoftravelingover,inimagination,everysceneagain,andrecallingthefeelingswhichactuatedmeatthetime。
IhavemuchpleasureinacknowledgingmydeepobligationstothehospitalityandkindnessofthePortugueseonmanyoccasions。
Ihavenotenteredintotheearlylabors,trials,andsuccessesofthemissionarieswhoprecededmeintheBechuanacountry,becausethathasbeendonebythemuchablerpenofmyfather-in-law,RevRobertMoffat,ofKuruman,whohasbeenanenergeticanddevotedactorinthesceneforupwardoffortyyearsAslightsketchonlyisgivenofmyownattempts,andthechiefpartofthebookistakenupwithadetailoftheeffortsmadetoopenupanewfieldnorthoftheBechuanacountrytothesympathiesofChristendom。
TheprospectstheredisclosedarefairerthanIanticipated,andthecapabilitiesofthenewregionleadmetohopethatbytheproductionoftherawmaterialsofourmanufactures,AfricanandEnglishinterestswillbecomemorecloselylinkedthanheretofore,thatbothcountrieswillbeeventuallybenefited,andthatthecauseoffreedomthroughouttheworldwillinsomemeasurebepromoted。
DrHooker,ofKew,hashadthekindnesstonameandclassifyforme,asfaraspossible,someofthenewbotanicalspecimenswhichIbroughtover;
DrAndrewSmithhimselfanAfricantravelerhasaidedmeinthezoology;
andCaptainNeedhaslaidopenformyusehisportfolioofAfricansketches,forallwhichactsofliberalitymythanksaredeservedlydue,aswellastomybrother,whohasrenderedmewillingaidasanamanuensis。
AlthoughIcannotprofesstobeadraughtsman,Ibroughthomewithmeafewroughdiagram-sketches,fromoneofwhichtheviewoftheFallsoftheZambesihasbeenpreparedbyamoreexperiencedartist。
October,1857。
MissionaryTravelsandResearchesinSouthAfrica。
Introduction。
PersonalSketchHighlandAncestorsFamilyTraditions
GrandfatherremovestotheLowlandsParentsEarlyLaborsandEffortsEveningSchoolLoveofReadingReligiousImpressions
MedicalEducationYouthfulTravelsGeologyMentalDiscipline
StudyinGlasgowLondonMissionarySocietyNativeVillage
MedicalDiplomaTheologicalStudiesDepartureforAfrica
NoClaimtoLiteraryAccomplishments。
Myowninclinationwouldleadmetosayaslittleaspossibleaboutmyself;
butseveralfriends,inwhosejudgmentIhaveconfidence,havesuggestedthat,asthereaderlikestoknowsomethingabouttheauthor,ashortaccountofhisoriginandearlylifewouldlendadditionalinteresttothisbookSuchismyexcuseforthefollowingegotism;
and,ifanapologybenecessaryforgivingagenealogy,Ifinditinthefactthatitisnotverylong,andcontainsonlyoneincidentofwhichIhavereasontobeproud。
Ourgreat-grandfatherfellatthebattleofCulloden,fightingfortheoldlineofkings;andourgrandfatherwasasmallfarmerinUlva,wheremyfatherwasbornItisoneofthatclusteroftheHebridesthusalludedtobyWalterScott:
“AndUlvadark,andColonsay,AndallthegroupofisletsgayThatguardfamedStaffaround。”*
*LordoftheIsles,canto4。
Ourgrandfatherwasintimatelyacquaintedwithallthetraditionarylegendswhichthatgreatwriterhassincemadeuseofinthe“TalesofaGrandfather“
andotherworksAsaboyIrememberlisteningtohimwithdelight,forhismemorywasstoredwithanever-endingstockofstories,manyofwhichwerewonderfullylikethoseIhavesinceheardwhilesittingbytheAfricaneveningfiresOurgrandmother,too,usedtosingGaelicsongs,someofwhich,asshebelieved,hadbeencomposedbycaptiveislanderslanguishinghopelesslyamongtheTurks。
Grandfathercouldgiveparticularsofthelivesofhisancestorsforsixgenerationsofthefamilybeforehim;andtheonlypointofthetraditionIfeelproudofisthis:Oneofthesepoorhardyislanderswasrenownedinthedistrictforgreatwisdomandprudence;
anditisrelatedthat,whenhewasonhisdeath-bed,hecalledallhischildrenaroundhimandsaid,“Now,inmylifetime,IhavesearchedmostcarefullythroughallthetraditionsIcouldfindofourfamily,andInevercoulddiscoverthattherewasadishonestmanamongourforefathersIf,therefore,anyofyouoranyofyourchildrenshouldtaketodishonestways,itwillnotbebecauseitrunsinourblood:itdoesnotbelongtoyou。
Ileavethispreceptwithyou:Behonest。”If,therefore,inthefollowingpagesIfallintoanyerrors,Ihopetheywillbedealtwithashonestmistakes,andnotasindicatingthatIhaveforgottenourancientmottoThiseventtookplaceatatimewhentheHighlanders,accordingtoMacaulay,weremuchliketheCapeCaffres,andanyone,itwassaid,couldescapepunishmentforcattle-stealingbypresentingashareoftheplundertohischieftain。
OurancestorswereRomanCatholics;theyweremadeProtestantsbythelairdcomingroundwithamanhavingayellowstaff,whichwouldseemtohaveattractedmoreattentionthanhisteaching,forthenewreligionwentlongafterward,perhapsitdoessostill,bythenameof“thereligionoftheyellowstick“。
FindinghisfarminUlvainsufficienttosupportanumerousfamily,mygrandfatherremovedtoBlantyreWorks,alargecottonmanufactoryonthebeautifulClyde,aboveGlasgow;andhissons,havinghadthebesteducationtheHebridesafforded,weregladlyreceivedasclerksbytheproprietors,MonteithandCo。
Hehimself,highlyesteemedforhisunflinchinghonesty,wasemployedintheconveyanceoflargesumsofmoneyfromGlasgowtotheworks,andinoldagewas,accordingtothecustomofthatcompany,pensionedoff,soastospendhisdecliningyearsineaseandcomfort。
Ourunclesallenteredhismajesty’sserviceduringthelastFrenchwar,eitherassoldiersorsailors;butmyfatherremainedathome,and,thoughtooconscientiousevertobecomerichasasmalltea-dealer,byhiskindlinessofmannerandwinningwayshemadetheheart-stringsofhischildrentwinearoundhimasfirmlyasifhehadpossessed,andcouldhavebestoweduponthem,everyworldlyadvantage。
HerearedhischildreninconnectionwiththeKirkofScotland
areligiousestablishmentwhichhasbeenanincalculableblessingtothatcountrybutheafterwardleftit,andduringthelasttwentyyearsofhislifeheldtheofficeofdeaconofanindependentchurchinHamilton,anddeservedmylastinggratitudeandhomageforpresentingme,frommyinfancy,withacontinuouslyconsistentpiousexample,suchasthatidealofwhichissobeautifullyandtruthfullyportrayedinBurns’s“Cottar’sSaturdayNight“HediedinFebruary,1856,inpeacefulhopeofthatmercywhichweallexpectthroughthedeathofourLordandSaviorIwasatthetimeonmywaybelowZumbo,expectingnogreaterpleasureinthiscountrythansittingbyourcottagefireandtellinghimmytravelsIreverehismemory。
TheearliestrecollectionofmymotherrecallsapicturesooftenseenamongtheScottishpoorthatoftheanxioushousewifestrivingtomakebothendsmeetAttheageoftenIwasputintothefactoryasa“piecer“,toaidbymyearningsinlesseningheranxietyWithapartofmyfirstweek’swagesIpurchasedRuddiman’s“RudimentsofLatin“,andpursuedthestudyofthatlanguageformanyyearsafterward,withunabatedardor,ataneveningschool,whichmetbetweenthehoursofeightandtenThedictionarypartofmylaborswasfolloweduptilltwelveo’clock,orlater,ifmymotherdidnotinterferebyjumpingupandsnatchingthebooksoutofmyhandsIhadtobebackinthefactorybysixinthemorning,andcontinuemywork,withintervalsforbreakfastanddinner,tilleighto’clockatnight。
Ireadinthiswaymanyoftheclassicalauthors,andknewVirgilandHoracebetteratsixteenthanIdonowOurschoolmasterhappilystillalive
wassupportedinpartbythecompany;hewasattentiveandkind,andsomoderateinhischargesthatallwhowishedforeducationmighthaveobtaineditManyavailedthemselvesoftheprivilege;
andsomeofmyschoolfellowsnowrankinpositionsfarabovewhattheyappearedeverlikelytocometowheninthevillageschool。
IfsuchasystemwereestablishedinEngland,itwouldproveanever-endingblessingtothepoor。
Inreading,everythingthatIcouldlaymyhandsonwasdevouredexceptnovelsScientificworksandbooksoftravelsweremyespecialdelight;thoughmyfather,believing,withmanyofhistimewhooughttohaveknownbetter,thattheformerwereinimicaltoreligion,wouldhavepreferredtohaveseenmeporingoverthe“CloudofWitnesses“,orBoston’s“FourfoldState“。
Ourdifferenceofopinionreachedthepointofopenrebelliononmypart,andhislastapplicationoftherodwasonmyrefusaltoperuseWilberforce’s“PracticalChristianity“Thisdisliketodrydoctrinalreading,andtoreligiousreadingofeverysort,continuedforyearsafterward;
buthavinglightedonthoseadmirableworksofDrThomasDick,“ThePhilosophyofReligion“and“ThePhilosophyofaFutureState“,itwasgratifyingtofindmyownideas,thatreligionandsciencearenothostile,butfriendlytoeachother,fullyprovedandenforced。
GreatpainshadbeentakenbymyparentstoinstillthedoctrinesofChristianityintomymind,andIhadnodifficultyinunderstandingthetheoryofourfreesalvationbytheatonementofourSavior,butitwasonlyaboutthistimethatIreallybegantofeelthenecessityandvalueofapersonalapplicationoftheprovisionsofthatatonementtomyowncase。