Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-16
MISCELLANEOUA.
THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA AS SEEN By DIR
LIVINGSTONE.

MISCELLANEOUS.
THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA AS SEEN By DIR.
LIVINGSTONE.
From the London Chronicle, Dec. 10
The continent OF which DR.. Livingstone has told
us 90 much that we did not know before, promises
hereafter to fill a wide space IN the history OF civil.
saiion. For many years past the intercourse between
England and the Yves. Coast OF Africa has been gra-
dual!y becoming more frequent and Important. Our
settlements are now more numerous, our trade more
extensive, and our dealings conducted III a closer re-
senblance to the habi,udes OF civilized commerce
than had heretofore been the casa. Long ago we
Abandoned the criminal traffic in human beings, at
one time the chief, il not the sole article OF product
for which the unhealthy shores of Guinea Were cou-
sidered worth visiting. We have since organized re-
ls,iuuships with the chiefs and tribes dwelling along
an extensive belt of coast, upon sounder aud more
Christian principles, and with results which. II not
quite 80 lucrative 10 a irw individuais.a are Tar more
beneficial 10 both parties 10 the transaction.
While sach has been the progress effected on the
western shores Of Africa, the vatt central regions OF
that continent remained almost unS cowa. From the
settlements which Europeans had formed on the coast
st different points, scientific fotays were indeed made
into the interior in successive eras. aud in various di:
rec;;ors. Thds Bruce, Salt. a0d Parkyns sutered
from the northeast by way # Abyssinia, aud sue.
cssd-d in penetrating more or less deeply into tho
central districts. Munso Park, tbs Laaders, and
many other adventurous MAIDS their way from the
north or the vest; while keen sportsmeu like Gordon
Cumming travelled upwards from the northern from
tier of British katfraria. reaching IN some cases con-
sid.rab!y within the belt OF tie tropics. lndentc-
.ioue were meds in this manner uppn almost every
aide IT the coutral area, und once or twice u sing.
ehoot OF exploration was carried right across soGI-
wide section of the African continent. The motiv.
Of these enterprises con,luued, however, TO be oue
Chiefly OF vague curiosity. Certain geographical
problems were proposed tor so.Utioa, Which. wb;.o
:hey stimulated ,hs ard1r u: discove:era, too often d.
verted their steps towards te'ds of r-sssrch coarr-
ratively useless and barren. But when once a fashion
aus been thoroughly established IN science, as in othe.
40, 80 rr,t snnD H-ty IN nurA Il Snrf N n vfl.
sal importance had been attached 10 the discovery u
ce..s!n secrets, or the calculation of some traditional
myste-;ee. One band uf explorers accordingly follow
ed upon the heels Of another, equally bent upon rs.
certa:nlny the soures Of the Nile the outlet of the
Niger, the physical conformation OF the Mountains
of,he Moon, or the topography and municipal! ,nstl;u
tions of Tmbuc,oo.
The darkness which has brooded from the remotest
.imes over Central Africa has now been dispelled far
more extensively than by the whole mass Of pre-
7ious discovere:s, through the eIertions of DR.. Liv
,1gstone. This reverend gentleman has just emery
I'd again into civilized life, after having plunged, and
soustiues altogether disappeared, in the great Afri,
.2G wiids, for a pariod of nearly sixteen years. His
original mission was designed specially with a reli.
sious object-he visi;ed Africa H. an emissary of the
LONDON Missionary Society. But his labnrs, through.
out tue wide and long series Of joIrueyings over the
unknown continent, took a far larger range than that
OF preaching and prose!ytism. DR.. Livingstone
showed throughout a rare combination OF persever.
ance, intelligence, and scientific knowledge. But for
these qualifications be would doubtless have fallen n
victim. ike 80 many predecessors, TO the diseases
consequent upon climate ard privatlon, or the perils
which every stranger must incur who ventures with.
out protection amidst tribes Of barbarians. When
we bear that the traveller now returned safely among
~ has bsen thirty.one times attacked with fever, and
seven times in danger of his life from the natives OF
the countries he passed through. the bare fact OF es.
cape from such complicated danger shows that the
individual must have been singularly gifted, both
mentally and corporeally. Without 2 vigorous con
s.iiution, great s~elf.commant 'nperturbable courage,
a.:ensive knowledge OF plysica! science, and the
cogsr TO penetrate and sway the characters of other
:neu, DR.. Livingstone would never have returned to
nsrrsts bis adventures.
Possessing these gifts, We ran well understand the
admirable uses to which he applied them during li'
long soiouru in Africa. "lIe has come back" SAID
Lord Shaitesbury At the meeting on Tuesday even.
ing, "bringing with him a harvest of knowledge az
me result OF hs interchangeable perseverance, aud Ell
accumulation Of facts which, under the blessing OF
God. might he turned TO The benefit of present and
,u:ure generations" The p.eciss extent and value
OF the researches accomplished by DIR. Livingstone
scs described by Mr. I. Mclean. Astronomer Royal
at tito Cape. Alter alluding TO hs triumphant. bat
perilous ;ourney across the African Continent, from
1oaDds on the West, to Quiiiman on the East coast,
:he writer proceeds: ITO this highiy-giiied man.
science 10 deeply indebted. The number OF ohser-
vations il astonishing when We consider the difficult
ties he had TO encounter. He observed for latitude
and longitude at every interesting point. particularly
at the confluence of other river. with the Zamb.se,
tho bendings, the fsGs, the more important villages,
sc. III biCsl. ut luS k'sie'l up, EtUHTdDDlCullf
e~peaking, that hitherto unknown section of the con-
tinen;. But he has done more. He has graphically
described the charaoie. of the country and its iuhabi
:ar.s. aud altogether his collection OF facts woa!d fill
a volume Of deep interest 10 fcieGce, TO commerce,
sud lat, nor l.hst, to humanity.
In it. general features the character whicI, DR.. Lii.
viugstoae gave. o. the country h. explored Is highly
encouraging. In" chrrf danger les at the outskirts.
Morally ard phS..ca!ly, Tho long shore districts of
Africa are tar worse Than IN: Interior. Every stream
brings down vast mh.ser OF vegetable substances
troui the dense lung.es along their banks, which be
come deposited when the CGrrei. 10 checked upon
meeting the waters OF the ocean, and constitute II
fr:ays Of fostering aud .erinen;iug matter, whence The
tropical sun draws perpetual clouds of poisonous ex.
baiation. TO this cause are attributed tn. pu,rid f..
yers aud other terrible forms Of disease TINT attack
almost every European vislter 10 that ii. oinened
shore. The moral Influences are not less deleterious
The contact between civilized and oarbarous races
,Imo.t invariably produces evil TO both. One discard.
foo MANY of the responsibilities OF civilized life, and
adopts instead the reckless habltudes of barbarism
The other loses at once the simplicity OF a primitive
existence, aud accepts first aud mosteaSeriy from his
more enlightened visiters, new weapons OF destruc
fun and means Of debarchery. Long before thu
members Of a bsrbarous tribe have acquired the
.se;. for any other ~conmodity protiered oy the Eu'
rc.sans, they will purchase al any sacrifice muskets
50, and yu~npowder. Although the Portuguese, The
FIesr,h and the English have possessed forts and car
lied ca trade upon the African c"as; for more than
.hres h.ndred years. the natives with whom tina
,,ornmeree is conducted have but i'ttie advanced be-
IOUt tUO h~~S eNS
AID demand.
Qua Influences. DR. Livingstone found the character OF
,ths country much improved. The physical condition
"a. better. There were high ,atle'lands Of vast e1.
..nt where the cir was dry and the heat comparative
" ai,igssed, and where. a.ove sii. lns traveller es'
csu.d The &epid fogs. aud mits'n1ta %. tue lower re-
-. Ne t5rnd natives, ALEC, who had heard moth
i Esp ba. suod Of the Europeans On one occasion
when threatened by some Eostiled demonstrate trHma
sirapgs tribe. is showed them i.Y color Ci MS t ss' n
III. face was tanned by lons exposure nearly as black
=. tbei- own, but he barred hi. arms md chest. Ihe
n..iyss became friendly a, once. know VIII"
,sa are they said you belong TO the tribe VINO m love
Inc LACK man" Ia the centre OF Africa, as Dr. Law
;Ds,,or related on Tuesday evening, ",he tribes were
lasuIU oud Ind to bin, but hitherto there bad always
been a fduka Of population abou, them which hsd
prevented CON from en.sttnS ,1'u u.,b 20 ,bs sss
Sy a xhicb 10y ooalG irsds with the white man" OF
III, II na,h' on his .ide the 'whiie man is likely TO take
squ.i sdvau,.ge. Beforei,a Africa through its Whole