Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-04-10

ivory and gold, which were sold by one tribe
to another until those articles reached Euro
pcans on the sea coast. The number of large
animals of the chase which DR.. Livingstone
met with between the 9Th and 22d degrees Of
south latitude was perfectly marvellous
They find their subsistence upon extensive
plains of coarse herbage, which, together with
the abundant water-melons, enables both man
and beast to travel in Africa Many tracts
in that country, however. cannot be traversed
on account of insects that sting beasts Of
burden to madness. The doctor dercribes
the fear Of African wild beasts to be much
greater in England than in Africa.
The chief documents which DIR. Livingstone
had prepared relative TO his travels and dis
coverios he unfortunately lost while crossing
an African river, in which also he nearly lost
his life but he has stores of memoranda Of
the utmost interest as to the ethnology, natu-
raj history, philology, geography, and geolo-
gy of the African continent.
DR.. Livingstone received hearty reception
at the Geographical Society on Monday even
ing. and was presented with the gold medal
of the institution.
On the 18th public reception was given
by the friends and admirers Of Or. Liyings-
tone to that gentleman, at the Freemason's
Tavern, Great Queenstreet The Earl of
Shaitesbury presided, and after several COM
plimentary speeches had been delivered, il
was moved by the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, second
ed by the Hon. A. Kinnaird, NJ p, THAT
this meeting presents its most cordial congrat-
ulations to the Rev. David Livingstone, L. l..
D., on his safe arrival in his native country,
after an absence Of sixteen years. occupied in
missionary labors and travels in South Africa.
| 1t entertains the highest admiration of that
/ Christian benevoencc, courage and perseve-
| rance, by which he was animated and sustain
ed through his extended and perilous iournies
| in those hitherto uncxplored regions and
the meeting hereby devoutly acknowledges
the merciful providence of God, by which
DIR. Livingstone was befriended and preserved
amidst the manifold dangers and gigantic diff
hculties of his noble enterprise, and by which
his self-denying and indefatgable efforts to
open a channel for the introduction of Chris
tianity, with its unnumbered blessings, to the
unenlightened millions of South Africa. have
been crowned with the happiest success
The Rev. Doctor, in the course of long and
eloquent speech. returned thanks, and the
meeting separated.
The Commercial Gazette of Port Louis,
Maurtius. contains an outline of a lecture
delivered by DIR. Livingstone, the African
traveller, in which he gave an interesting de-
scription of the peculiarities, climates, vege-
tation, and population of Africa. The lee
turer said that the first, or eastern zone, was
distinguished by much more humid climate
than either of the others. This caused
by the prevailing winds being easterly. The
inhabitants were athletic, tall and brave. The
second, or middle zone, was comparatively fiat
and arid. The inhabitants. called Bechuanas,
though originally of the same stock as the
Caftres, are not so well developed physically,
and though as fond Of cattle and agriculture
as the Caffres, are by means so brave a
people They are divided into upwards of
twenty tribes, and live in towns governed by
hereditary chieftains, who maintain their pow
or by a system of espionage and lending cat
tie. Allusion was then made by the lecturer
90 the rain doctors, who were chiefly adven-
turers from other tribes. They resorted to
all sorts Of devices to gain time, in the hope
that clouds might collect, and permit them to
gain credit by bringing their operations to
close Just at the moment when rain commence
ed. They were then sure of liberal reward.
| In Africa, where rain was sometimes of so
much Importance, prophetic anticipations re-
specting it are much looked to. Bechuanas
were generally frugal and industrious. They
were fond of show and glitter As much as
$50 had been given for superior English
rifle The women we're not treated well by
the Bechuanas or Caffres They were, how
ever complete mistresses of the houses and
the produce of the garden. A man did not
dare to enter his wife's hut in her ABSENCE
The middle zone was nearly fiat and very
sandy, but it was not desert, like portions
of the north of Africa There was abundant
vegetation, but water was very scarce The
inhabitants, called "Bakalahari' and bush
men, managed to subsist with very small
supply of the precious fluid, for there are
many tuberous roots which contain in their
cellular tissues supplies of pure cold water.
In the plains were immense numbers Of os-
triches and herds Of large antelopes, which
can subsist for months without water. The
| animals which cannot live without water were
the elephant, rhinooeros, the giraffe, pallah,
buffalo, lions and hyenas When these are
met there is almost a certainty of water being
found in the country. Immediately beyond
the bushmen and Bakalahari there was Gu
rious race Of people, called Bakoba or Bazei-
ya They lived on the river Zanga and other
rivers, and were the Quakers of the body po-
litic in Africa. They never fight, but submit
quietly to every tribe which conquers the
country adjacent TO the rivers on which they
always reside. They say they never fight,
because their forefathers tried to do so once
with bows made of palma Christi, and as they
broke they gave up the practice entirely The
spirit of trade is strong in the African. There
seems to be a scarcity of diseases in Africa
no consumption or scrofula, hydrophobia, can
Ger, cholera, smallpox measles. In every
village there were crowds of children. This
explains why, notwithstanding all their wars
and kidnapping, they continue to dwell in the
presence of all their brethren. 1t seems as
if they were preserved (said the lecturer) by
Divine Providence for purposes of mercy, as
distinctly as Gods ancient people, tho Jews.
WALKER AND BUCHANAN ON KANSAS
The following expressions of opinion ascribed
TO Robert j. Walker, the newly appointed
Governor of Kansas, and President Buehan-