Heroes of South African Discovery ... Fourth edition

Front matter

\%tiui of JSfliith gifritan giMorcrg. BOOKS OF TRAVEL. Uniform in stjr, price, anB appearance fattlj "Jgctocs of Soutlj African Siscofacrg." Copiously Illustrated, Crown octavo, Cloth extra, Price 3/6 each, Heroes of American Discovery. By Nancy Bell (N. d'Anvers). With Sixteen full-page Illustrations, and numerous others in the text. Heroes of North African Discovery. By Nancy Bell (N. d'Anvers). Fourth Edition. Map and numerous Illustrations. A companion volume to " Heroes of South African Discovery." A corrrplete Catalogue of Marcus Ward & Co7s Publications sent post Jrec on application. Marcus Ward & Co., Limited, London and Belfast. HEROES OF SOUTH AFRICAN DISCOVERY BY NANCY MR ELL Author of "Heroes of North African Discovery," " Ej.emjcntarv History of Art," " Art Guidb to Europe." &c. SSEitfj Numerous Ullusttations FOURTH EDITION Xont)on MARCUS WARD & CO., LIMITED ORIEL HOUSE, FARRINGDON STREET, F..C. AND AT BELFAST AND NEW YORK.

TO MY FRIEND, DORA W HIGH AM, I DEDICATE THIS THE FOURTH EDITION OF MY •HEROES OF SOUTH AFRICAN DISCOVERY." Kancg iMl. Southbourne-on-Sea, April, 1S9S. AUTHOR'S NOTE. WITH the aid of the many recently published aud important works on Africa, such as Keltie's " Partition of Africa," Silva White's " Development of Africa," and the narratives of the explorers themselves, I have thoroughly revised and brought up to date my two volumes on African Exploration. Carefully avoiding the vexed question of politics, I have in these, as in previous editions, kept strictly to the record of the solution of geographical problems, according the title of hero ouly to those who made the progress of science and the cause of humanity their chief aims. I may add that ia Heroes of South African Discovery I have treated of those travellers who started from points to the south of the Equator; whilst in the companion volume, Heroes of North African Discovery, I record the adventures of those who began their expeditions to the north of that boundary line.

NANCY BELL (N. d'Anvers). South iiourne-on-Sea, April, 1S93. BOOKS CONSULTED IjM the preparation of "HEROES OF SOUTH AFRICAN DISCOVERY." Chambers's Encyclopedia (1893 Edition). Petermann's " Mittheilungen." KMbrner's " Sud Afrika. " Condcr's "Modern Traveller." Pinkerton's " Voyages." Forbes's "Africa." Paterson's ' ' Four Journeys in the Country of the Hottentots and Caffraria. " Campbell's " Travels in South Africa." „ " Narrative of a Second Journey in Africa. " Vaillant's " Voyages en Afrique." Lichtenstein's "Travels in South Africa." Moffat's " Missionary Labours and Scenes in South Africa." Livingstone's "Missionary Labours and Scenes in South Africa." „ '■ Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi. " „ " Last Journals," edited by Dr. "Waller. Von der Decken's "Reisen in Ost Afrika."

Chapter I

— INTRODUCTORY. Discovery of the Cape of Good Hope by Diaz — Vasco da Gama — Almeida and Albuerquerque — Early Explorations on the East Coast — First Colonisation of the Cape — Sufferings of the Natives — Humane Policy of the English — Kaffraria and its Annexation — Basuto Land and Moshesh — Natal Annexed to the Cape Colony — Griqua Land — The Orange Free State and Transvaal Republics, 11

Chapter II. Early Explorers Prom The South

Vaillant, Sparrmann, and Barrow — Paterson's Trips to Namaqua Land and Kaffraria — Lichtenstein's Visit to the Bechuana Tribe — Murder of Cowan and Denovan — Campbell's Visits to Lattaku and to Namaqua Land — Campbell's Second Journey and Arrival at King Kossie's Capital — Burchell's abortive attempt to cross Africa — Moffat's immediate Predecessors, . . . . . .27

Chapter III. Moffat's Work In Namaqua Land And Among The Bechuanas

Journey from Cape Town to Pella, and Sufferings by the Way — Arrival at Africaner's Kraal — Previous Life and Conversion of Africaner — House-building in Namaqua Land — Trip to the North — Alarm of Lions — Old Woman left to die — Return to Africaner's Kraal — Trip to Griqua Land — Africaner's Journey to Cape Town — Moffat on the Kuruman — Early Troubles — War Scenes — Trip to the Unknown North — Mosilikatse's Ambassadors — Journey to Matabele Land — Retirement, 47

Chapter IV

Livingstone's early discoveries. Arrival at Cape Town — Preliminary Work in Bechuana Land — Settlement at Mabotsa — Troubles with Lions — Marriage and Arrival at Sochuane — Chief Sechele — Drought aud Removal to Kolobeng —First Trip to the Kalihari Desert and Return to Kolobeng — Contents. FAOB Second Trip, and Discovery of Lake N'gami — Visit to Sebituane and the Death of that Chief — Return to England of Mrs. Living stone and her Children — Journey from Cape Town to Linyanti — The Makololo and their chief Sekeletu — Journey from Linyanti to St. Paul de Loanda by way of the Barotse Valley, Balonda Land, the Leeba, and the Congo Valley — Peturn to Linyanti — Discovery of the Victoria Falls of the Zambesi— Journey through the Batonga Country — Danger at M'bende's Kraal — Narrow Escape — Arrival at Tete — Voj'age down the Zambesi — Arrival at Quilimane — Voyage to Mauritius and Suicide of Sekwebu — Return to England, 81

Chapter V. Galton And Andersson In South-west Africa

Arrival in Walfisch Bay — The Hill-Damaras — Horrors of Raid on Damara Land — Ascent of Erongo — Across Damara Land — Meeting with Ovampos — Compelled to turn back — Through Ovampo— Ondonga and King Nangoro — Back to Walfisch Bay — To Lake N'gami from the West — Green and Chapman — Discovery of the Okavango River — Andersson Wounded— His Last Journey, Discovery of the Cunene River, and Death, ..... 125

Chapter VI. Burton, Speke, Grant, And Von Der Decken, And The Dis

COVERY OF LAKES TANGANYIKA AND ALBERT N'YANZA. Krapf and Rebmann's Discovery oi Kilimanjaro and Kenia— Arrival of Burton and Speke at Zanzibar — Preliminary Excursions — Start for the West — Over the Mountains to Ujiji — Reception at Tura Nullah — The Land of the Moon and its People — Serious Illness of both Explorers — At the Lake at last — Speke's Blindness — Voyage up the Coast of Tanganyika — Difficulties at Ujiji — Trip to the North of the Lake — Disappointment and Return to Ujiji — Back again in the Land of the Moon — Speke's Journey in search of a Second Lake — Interview with a Female Ruler — Discovery of the Victoria N'yanza — Return Home — Arrival of Speke and Grant at Cape Town — Voyage to Zanzibar — Across Country to Uzinga — Entry of Karagwe — Cordial Reception and Pleasant Stay there — Grant's Illness and Detention — Speke in Uganda — Discovery of a Source of the Nile — Kamrasi and Ungoro — Return Home by way of Gondokoro — Von der Decken's Ascent of Kilimanjaro — Murder of Von der Decken in Galla Land — Recent Discoveries of Snow-capped Volcanoes, 141 CHAPTEB VII.

LIVINGSTONE'S SECOND JOURNEY, AND THE WORK OF KARL MAUCH. Arrival at the Mouth of the Zambesi — The Ma-Robert — War between the Half-castes and the Portuguese — At Sena with Seuhor Ferrao — Livingstone's old Makololo Servants — Their Sufferings in his Contents. 7 t AGE 183 231 Absence — Excursion to Kebrabasa — First Visit to Manganja Land — Chief Chibisa — On Foot to Lake Shirwa — Bad Behaviour of the Ma-Robert — Up the Shire again, and Discovery of Lake Nyassa — Back to Tete, and down to the Kongone with the Ma-Robert — Journey to Makololo Land — Rescue of Baldwin at the Victoria Falls — News of Sekeletu's Leprosy, and the Misery of his People — Arrival at Sesheke — Interview with Sekeletu — His Lady-Doctor superseded by Kirk and Livingstone — A Month at Sesheke — News of the Sufferings of Missionaries — Over the Rapids, and Narrow Escapes — On Foot to Tete — The Last of the Ma-Robert— Arrival of Pioneer and of Bishop Mackenzie — Trip up the Rovuma — Return to the Shire, and up that River with the .Mission Party — Horrors of Slave-trade, and Rescue of Slaves — A Struggle with Ajawa — Farewell to Bishop Mackenzie — Fugitives in the Papyrus on a Lake — Arrival of Mrs. Livingstone and other Ladies — Sad Death of Bishop Mackenzie — Death of Mrs. Livingstone — The Lady Nyassa — Her Launch — Her Trip up the Shire — Sudden Recall of Expedition — Return to MMouth of the Zambesi — Home via Mozambique, Zanzibar, and Bombay — Mauch and his Discovery of Gold Fields and Mines near Sofala — Mohr and Baines,

Chapter VIII. Western Equatorial Africa And Its Explorers

Magyar's Marriage with an African Princess, and Journeys in Congo, &c. — Du Chaillu's Arrival in the Gaboon — The Mpongwes — Ascent of the River — A Chase — Start for the Cannibal Country — The Sierra de Cristal Range — First Meeting with Gorillas — Fan Warriors — A Gorilla Hunt — Horrors of Cannibalism amongst the Fans — Compelled to turn back — Down the Coast to the Fernand Vaz— A young Gorilla — Up the Rembo — Encounterswith Gorillas — Terrible Executions at Goumbi — Entry of Ashira Land — King Olenda — Apingi Land and its Chief — A Black Man offered to Du Chaillu for Supper — Du Chaillu made King of Apingi Land — Fever, and Return to the Coast — Second Journey to Ashira Land — Mouth of the Cammi — Another Gorilla Captured — The Junction of the Niembai and Ovenga — Olenda again — Trip to the Falls of the Ngouyai — Long Delay at Olenda's Village — Small-pox and Famine — Death of Quengueza — Start for the East — Entry of Otando Land — Terror of the Natives — On the Borders of Ishogo — A Dwarf Tribe — Quarrel with Natives — Narrow Escape, and Flight to the Coast — Return to Europe — Du Chaillu's Discoveries confirmed by Monteiro, Bastian, and Burton, ......

Chapter IX

Livingstone's last journey and death New Expedition resolved on — Arrival at Zanzibar — Across Country to the Nyassa — Desertion of Sepoys — Arrival on the Shores of the Lake — No Canoes — Piound the South of the Lake by Land — Rumours of Murder of Arabs — Desertion of Johanna Men — Report Contents.

PAdS 273 of Livingstone's Death — Search Expedition under Young — West wards — The Mazitu — To the North for Tanganyika — Further Deser tions and Loss of Medicine Chest — Fever — Arrival at Tanganyika — Lake Moero on the West — Attempt to reach it frustrated — Chance of returning home declined — Off for Lake Moero at last — Arrival on its Shores exhausted — Down the Lake to Cazembe 's — Humours of another Lake on the South — Start for the South with Moham med Mograbin — Horrors of the Slave-trade — Guides for the Lake at last — Discovury of Lake Bangweolo — To the Island of Mbalala — Mutiny of Crew — Compelled to turn back — War and Rumours of War — Flight to the North with the Arabs — Bade to Tanganyika, and awful Sufferings by the Way — Across the Lake to Ujiji — Back again to the Western Shores — Start for Manyuema with Arab Slave-traders — Delay at BambarriS — Arbitrary Proceedings of the Arabs — A Trip to the North — Desertion of all the Men but five — Return to Bambarre, and long Delay there with Bad Feet — The Disease of Heart-brokenness — Arrival of Men from the Coast, and Fresh Start for the Lualaba — Arrival at Nyangwe — Awful Massacre of Native Women — Livingstone determines to return — An Ambush and Narrow Escape — Cannibalism — Arrival at Ujiji in an Exhausted State — Stores, &c, Stolen — Despair — Opportune Arrival of Stanley — Stanley's Journey from Zanzibar — Trip with Stanley to the North of Tanganyika — To Unyanyembe with Stanley — Parting with Stanley — Return alone to Unyanyembe — Long and Dreary Waiting there— Arrival of Stanley's Men — Start for the South-West — Round the Southern Extremity of Tanganyika — Across Country to Bangweolo — Terrible Sufferings amongst the Sponges and Marshes — Across the Chambeze or Lualaba at last — Serious Illness — Living stone is carried on the Shoulders of his Men — Rapidly -increasing Weakness — A Litter is made — The Last Service — The last few miles of march — Arrival at Chitambo's — Erection of Hut — Last Words — Death — Susi and Chumah chosen Captains — Preservation "of Livingstone's Body — The Burial Service read — The Corpse Packed for Travelling — The Return March to the North-East — Meeting with Cameron at Unyanyembe — To the Coast with Dr. Dillon and Lieutenant Murphy— Suicide of Dillon — Arrival at Bagamoyo — Embarkation of Corpse for England — Funeral in West minster Abbey,

Chapter X

Cameron's journey across Africa. Cameron appointed to the Command of the Livingstone Relief Expedition — Arrival at Zanzibar — To Bagamoyo — Fracas with an Arab — Robert Moffat — To Mkombenga — Dillon's Illness — Arrival of Murphy and News of Moffat's Death — Across Ugogo and Mgunda M'kali to Unyanyembe— Long Delay and Serious Illness — News of Livingstone's Death — Arrival of Livingstone's Body — Dillon and Murphy start with it for the Coast — Dillon's Suicide — Cameron resolves to go west alone — From Unyanyembe to Ujiji — Cruise on Lake Tanganyika — Discovery of the Lukuga, the Outlet Contents. 9 of Tanganyika — Back again to Ujiji— From Ujiji to Manyuema — The Lualaba at last — Up the River to Nyangwe — No Canoes to be had — Disappointment and Resolution to go with Tippu-Tib News of Lake Sankorra — To Tippu-Tib's Camp on the Lomani — Conflicts with Natives and Fever — At Kasono's — Hopes of goin thence to Lake Sankorra disappointed — Trip to Lake Molono-a— An Ambush — Cameron's Goat Stolen — Fight with Natives Escape to another Village and Entrenchment there — Peace — Off again for Lake Mohyra — Arrival on its Shores — Floating Villages and Huts — Back to Kilemba — Decides to go to Benguela wTth Alvez — Trip to Lake Kassali — lieturn to Kilemba — Start for the West at last — Horrors by the way — Arrival in Portuguese Districts in Absolute Destitution — Sale of Shirts and Great-coat for Food — Kamgumba's Gift of a Goat — Arrival at Alvez Settlement and Journey thence to Benguela — The Sea at last— Welcome from M. Cauchoix — Serious Illness at Katombela — Voyage to St. Paul de Loanda — Reception there — Embarkation for England, . . 342

CHAPTER XL

Stanley's journey from sea to sea. Stanley's Arrival in Zanzibar and Preliminary Trip up the Rufiji — The Start for the Interior — From Ugogo to Urimi — The Medical Stores broken open — Death of Edward Pocock — Launch of the Lady Alice on the Victoria N'yanza — Visit to King Mtesa ot Uganda — Death of Barker — From Usukuma to Lake Albert — At the Lukuga Creek — Across Manyuema to Nyangwe — Desertion of Arab Escort — Down the Lualaba — Stopped by Rapids — Death of Frank Pocock — Across the Mountains to Boma — The Future of African Exploration, 377

Chapter XII. Work Done Since

1876. The International African Association — Meeting of the Berlin Conference — Foundation of Congo State — Expeditions of GrenfeU, Wolf, and others — Discovery of Kasai-Sankuru System — Life-Story of Congo — Serpa Pinto — Discoveries in Zambesia — African Lakes Company — Work of Thomson, Holub, and others — Emin Pasha — Journey of Stanley to his relief — Sufferings of Rear Column — Journey to Zanzibar — Summary of Work done — List of Tracts still unexplored — Conclusion . (Jta'lrations.

PACE Bakalahari Women and Children going lo letch Water, - 136 African Primeval Fore.t, - 138 Spring or Sucking-place, - 140 View of Mombasa, - - - 142 View in Z mzibar, - - - 144 River-side Sci-ne at Asaba, - 150 View ol Zanzibar, - - - 160 Interview with the Queen- Mother of Uganda, - - 172 Transport of I vnry to the Coast, 174 Interview with a Manganja Chief, 190 Murchison Falls, - - 218 Papvrns, - - - - 221 A Kuffir Village, - - - 228 Bushman, .... 230 View of Sea-shore of Congo, - 232 Mpongwes in their Canoes meeting a Ship, - - - 234 Mission Station on the Gaboon River, - - - - 236 Shooting a Gorilla, - - 246 View on the Shores of the Fernand Vaz, - - - - 248 Encounter with a Gorilla, - _50 Meeting between Livingstone and Stanley, - - - 320 On the Eastern Shores of Lake Tanganyika, - - - 322 Carrying Livingstone's Body to the Coast, - - - 338 KafHr Mission Church, - - 341 Village in Manyuema, - - 358 Floating Hut on Lake Mohyra, 369 PAOE Vasco da Gama, - - - 1 3 Types us Hottentot., &c., - 20 Scene in Basuto Land, - - 22 Forest near the Coast of Natal, 24 Zulu-Kaffirs in Ordinary Dress, 25 Zulu-Kaffirs in War Costume, 25 South African Waggon, - - 28 Hottentot, - 29 Hottentot Woman and Child, 32 Street in a Bechuana Town, - 33 Group of Cacti, - - - 35 South African War-dance, - 40 Portraits of typical Bushmen and Children, - - - 42 Ant-hill in South Africa, - .8 Nam.-iqua Women, - - 55 Euphorbia Trees, - - - 57 Bushmen making a Fire, - 60 Bushwoman in Holiday Attire, 61 A Bushman's Equipment, - 62 Hottentot Weapons and Domestic Utensils, - - - 62 Bushmen's Weapons, - - 63 Bushmen's Cave in Griqua Land, 67 Locust, 74 Scene in South Africa, - - 80 Dr. Livingstone, - - - 80 A "Hopo," or Game-trap, - 86 Bakalahari Women laying in a stock of Water, - - - 90 Bakwains making Kaross.s, - 91 Dr. Livingstone's Reception in Loanda, - 110 Village in Basuto Land, - - 124 Flamingo, - - - -■ 126 -* Heroes of South African Discovery.

Chapter I. Introductory

Discovery of the Cape of Good Hope by Diaz — Vasco da Gama — Almeida and Albuerquerque— Early Explorations on the East Coast — First Colonisation of the Cape — Sufferings of the Natives— Humane Policy of the English — Kaffraria and its Annexation — Basuto Land and Moshesh — Natal Annexed to the Cape Colony — Griijua Land — The Orange Free State and Transvaal Republics. TO trace the course of South African exploration it is not necessary to go further back than the close of the fifteenth century, when (1486) the Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Bartholomew Diaz, a Portuguese officer in the service of King Heury II. Early navigators, as we have seen in our Heroes of North African Discovery, had, it is true, rounded the now well-known promontory, but it had been, so to speak, unconsciously, without more than a dim recognition of the fact that they had passed the long-sought extremity of the African continent.

Even Diaz was at first blind to the importance of the progress made, for he had sailed down the western coast and some little distance up the eastern, before the sight of land on the left instead n— (s.a.) Diaz and Da Gama. of the right hand revealed to him his own discovery. A narrow escape from shipwreck, the finding of the remains of a companion vessel near the point now known as Port Elizabeth (S. lat. 34°), and the terrible accounts of the few survivors of its crew who had escaped massacre at the hands of the blacks, combined so to terrify the sailors under Diaz, that he was compelled most reluctantly to return home without having advanced further north than Algoa Bay, a little above Port Elizabeth. Noting more particularly the features of the newly discovered districts as he again slowly sailed along their coasts, he made out rugged rocks alternating with dreary stretches of sand, and, rounding for a second time the termination of the great Table Mountain, with its huge bulk sloping up to a height of 3582 feet above the sea-level, he gave to its most southerly point the ominous name of the Cape of all the Storms (Cabo de todos ios tormentos), subsequently changed by Henry II. of Portugal to that it still bears.

On his arrival in Lisbon, in December, 1487, Diaz was at first greeted with enthusiasm, and his heart beat high with the hope of being shortly enabled to prosecute his researches with adequate forces and means. But alas ! year after year passed by, leaving all his petitions to his Government un noticed, and it required the discovery of America without its aid to rouse the Court of Portugal to a sense of the golden opportunities it was letting slip in its short-sighted apathy. An important expedition was at last (1497) sent out to discover a new and southern passage to India, but even then it was not Diaz, but Vasco da Gama who was appointed to the supreme command. Eager to share, if only as a subordinate, in the prosecution of the work begun by him, our first hero obtained permission to go on board A Storm off the Cape. 13 one of the three vessels composing the little fleet, but his jealous successor sent him back to Portugal from the Cape Verd Islands.

With that melancholy return ended his career as a South African explorer, but we may add that three years later he joined Cabral, the discoverer of Brazil, and was drowned in a storm on the 29th May, 1500. Having got rid of his unfortunate rival, Da Gama followed VASCO I'A GAMA. his example by steering due south, and after much stormy weather aud many a narrow escape from shipwreck, he cast anchor in the haven now called Table Bay on the 16th November, 1497, five months from the date of his departure On the Coast of Natal. from Lisbon. Overtaken a few days later by a terrible storm, justifying the name first given to the Cape by Diaz, and embarrassed by mutiny amongst his men, Da Gama with difficulty managed to round the formidable promon tory. Once past it, however, the aspect of affairs brightened, the terrified sailors recovered their spirits, and crowded eagerly to the sides of the vessels to watch the natives riding on the still famous Cape oxen, or tilling the planta tions dotted with their conical huts.

In the distance, herds of wild elephants were seen tossing their trunks in the air, and close in shore sported hundreds and thousands of seals. Amicable relations were soon opened with the blacks, who were ready to exchange oxen, sheep, and ivory for bells, glass beads, and coloured cloths. The coasts of the present Cape Colony and Kaffraria were in due course left behind, and that of Natal — so called on account of its being the time of the Nativity of Christ when it was first sighted — was reached. Here Da Gama found a numerous and fine looking population, who spoke a language different to that of the bushmen of the neighbouring districts, and were governed by a king of considerable intelligence, whose friendship was won by the presentation of a pair of red pantaloons, and other articles of wearing apparel.

So taken were the natives of this coast with their white visitors, that they hurried to bring them drinking vessels when they stooped to quench their thirst at the fresh-water streams running down to the sea, and almost forced their bone and ivory ornaments upon the acceptance of the Portuguese sailors, overwhelming them with wild gestures of gratitude in return for the smallest gift of linen or beads. Pressing on in a north-easterly direction, the adventurous mariners arrived at the mouth of the now famous Zambesi, From the Cape to India. 15 and scurvy having broken out amongst his followers, he decided to land on an island near the coast, in the hope of obtaining some definite information regarding the maritime route to India, the discovery of which was the main object of his voyage. Little, however, was to be learned of the thick-skulled woolly-haired negroes here, and as soon as his men were fit to work, Da Gama again weighed anchor.

After an interesting visit to the present province of Mozambique, then inhabited by a slim, tall, light-brown, intelligent race, and a slight skirmish with some Moorish settlers in the more northerly Nubia of modern times, he came at last to Melinda (S. lat. 3° 12') in Zanzibar. Here, to his delighted surprise, he obtained not only full instructions on the subject he had most at heart, but the services of a well-trained pilot, a native of India, under whose guidance he crossed the Indian Ocean, and arrived at Calicut, on the north-eastern coast of India, on the 20th May, 1498, thus opening direct communication between the east and west, and striking a first blow at the long-maintained commercial supremacy of the Italian Republics, by rendering possible the transference of that supremacy to Western Europe.

In September, 1499, after two years and five months absence, Da Gama, having touched again at Melinda on his homeward voyage, landed in Lisbon, where he was most enthusiastically received. In 1502, this time with a fleet of twenty vessels under his command, he paid another visit to the eastern coast of Africa, and founded the still existing Portuguese settlements of Sofala and Mozambique. The work thus begun by Da Gama was vigorously carried on, somewhat later, by Francesco d'Almeida and Alfonso d'Albuerquerque, who successively visited the Discovery of Congo. eastern coast of Africa, founding forts at every commanding position on the coast, and displacing alike the negroes, natives, and the Arab settlers, descendants of the conquerors who overran North Africa, and penetrated far below the equator, in the tenth century a.d. Almeida, after a successful career as Viceroy of India, landed at Table Bay on his return voyage, aud was killed with some twenty of his men in a scuffle with the native Hottentots, but no trustworthy details of the tragic event ever reached Europe.

Gradually the Portuguese extended their jurisdiction from about the twenty-fifth parallel S. lat. to the equator, and Sofala and Mozambique are still nominally under their sway, but the more northerly Zanzibar reverted to the Moors abont 1785, and is still nominally governed by a Sultan or Seyid, although, as a matter of fact, the Imperial British East African Company and the German East African Association have between them absorbed nearly the whole of what was, until the last two decades, a powerful East African kingdom. On the western, as on the eastern coast of South Africa, the Portuguese were the first to gain a footing. Starting from Port Mina on the Gold Coast, which had become the central point of the Portuguese settlements in North Africa, Diego Cam (about 1486 or 1487) acting under the instruc tions of his sovereign, John II., continued the work of Prince Henry the Navigator (noticed in our Heroes of North African Discovery), and reached the mouth of the now well-known Congo (S. lat. 6°), ascended that river for a considerable distance, made friends with the natives, and, after convincing them of his friendly intentions, actually carried off a large party to Portugal, promising, however, before weighing anchor, that he would bring his Andrew Bat tel. 17 compulsory guests back to their native land in fifteen months.

He left some of his own people on shore as host ages, and, true to his word, returned the following year to find all well and happy. Landing the natives, he then made a trip of some 200 leagues down the coast of what is now the Congo Free State, paid a visit to one of the many native chiefs, who received him with great courtesy, and finally, laden with ivory, and accompanied by two young Africans, he again set sail for Lisbon. Two years later, the natives were sent back under charge of an ambassador and numerous missionaries. The latter, fiud ing the ground already prepared for the reception of the good seed of Christianity by the earlier Portuguese settlers, prospered so well in their efforts to convert the natives, that the first stone of a Christian church was laid the very week of their arrival, and on the same day the chief and many of his subjects were baptised.

Unfortunately, this auspicious beginning had not all the favourable results expected, for when it came to the enforcement of Christian morality, and the chief was urged to put away his numerous wives, he was so disgusted that he and all his people renounced the new faith and went back to pagan ism. The eldest son of the faithless chief, however, remained firm, and on his accession to power a few years later, the country again professed Roman Catholicism. Two centuries after the first arrival of the Portuguese, the Court of Rome directed its attention to the wide field offered for proselytism by the unexplored districts of the Congo basin, and, one after another, zealous missionaries were sent out, of whom the Capuchin monks, Carli, Angelo, and Merolla, were perhaps the most energetic. Full details of their work are given in vol xvi. of Pinkerton's Back again to the Cape. 18 Voyages, but they added nothing or next to nothing to geographical knowledge.

We turn, therefore, from them to a certain Andrew Battel, an Englishman, who was sent (about 1590) by the Portuguese a prisoner to Angola, or Donga, the name formerly given to the whole of the districts south of the Congo, though now restricted to the Portuguese possessions. During eighteen years' detention in these parts, Battel made trading excursions, on behalf of his captors, to Loango on the north of the Congo and Benguela on the south of Angola. In his own account of his adventures, reprinted in vol. xvi. of Pinkerton's Voyages, Battel describes the cannibalism of a fearful race, to which he gives the name of the Gogos, inhabiting a border district of Benguela, and tells of the bigoted fetichism prevailing in every community visited by him. Of the general features of the West African coast districts, such as the great number of the rivers, the luxuriant tropical and sub-tropical vegetation, and the abundance of wild animals, he also gives interesting de tails, and he enumerates fully the chief articles of trade, including copper, iron, and ivory, but, like the missionaries, he says nothing of the course of the rivers, or the nature of the interior of Western Africa ; and not until the present eentury was any really definite information obtained on either of these points.