Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-02
Interesting from South africa.

By letter from John G. Willis, esq, United
States consul at Loanda, southwest coast Of
Africa, to friend in this city, says the Salem
Mass Register, we have some interesting in.
formation concerning an interior exploration
of that portion of Africa, to the following
effect:
On the LIST of June, DR.. Livingston of Eng
land, arrived at Loanda, all the way from the
Cape of Good Hope, through the centre Of
Africa. He started from one Of the missions
in the vicinity of the Cape, about twenty-seven
months before, and had been given up for lost
as no news had been received from the time he
left up to the day that he arrived at Loanda
He describes the interior as very pleasant and
with good climate, the land being high.
His route was north until he got in the lati.
tude of Loanda, when he shaped his course for
that place. A short time after so long doing
he found the height of land was decreasing
so much SO, that in few days he descended
two thousand feet. His health was good until
he commenced nearing the coast, after which
he was unwell great part of the time. Up to
the 9TH of June, 1.-THE date of the letter. he was
confined to the house, but was improving every
day.
DR.. Livingston brought to Loanda twenty
seven negroes, who were given him as guard,
by one Of the chiefs in the interior, and his in.
teation is to return to the Cape by land-partly
to endeavor to make further discoveries, and
partly to return the negroes.
For many days he was in forest so dense
that the light of day could hardly be discerned
and he was obliged to set the guard to work
cutting down the trees so that he could see the
stars TO take an observation. He started with
many cattle, but lost all by flies. He was
obliged for many days to live on the fruit Of
some of the trees, which fruit resembled the
gourd. he has the latitude and longitude OF
every place of importance that he has seen
but, as regards the country being second edi.
ton of California or Australia, he does not say
much.
He was attacked by wild beasts only once
during the route. That encounter was with a
lion, which as soon as he got the doctors arm
between his teeth, was wounded by one of the
guards. The lion imediately left the doctor,
and attacked the guard, wounding one in the
leg and another in the arm, but after his third
spring be fell down and died.
DR.. Livingston was not much more fortunate
in his intercourse with the natives, some OF
whom, as he approached the coast, took all his
clothes, with the exception Of a single very
all his influence, and make q great many
promises, in order to retain that.
In the interior, where a white man had pro.
badly never been before, he was received by
the different chiefs in greatstate, and was offered
much hospitality. He speaks the language Of
the natives Of the interior, which is entirely
different from that Of those about Loando.
1t is understood that report of his travels
will be forwarded to the Geographical Society
Of London, as soon as an opportunity offers,
and the doctor is able to put his notes in a
proper shape.
Rev. DR.. Livingston is a well known mis-.
sionary, who has resided for many years in the
interior of South Africa. Those who have
read the interesting narrative Of Mr. Cummings,
published in this city, must have become we'll
acquainted with the character Of DR.. Liyings.
ton.