A JOURNAL OF ADVENTURES WHILST EXPLORING LAKE NYASSA, CENTRAL AFRICA, AND ESTABLISHING THE SETTLEMENT OF "LIVINGSTONIA." By E. D. YOUNG, R.N. REVISED BY REV. HORACE WALLER, F. R. G. S., [EDITOR OF LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS,' ETC.] WITH MAPS. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1877. кс PREFACE. To turn over the leaves of a journal on one's return from distant travels and arduous occupations is always a penitential exercise. There is so much that should have been recorded on the spot, but then the spot was one that was not conducive to quiet jottings and descriptive accuracy. Perhaps Africa must, and always will suffer at the hands of her explorers more than any other country in this respect. In a land where a good day's work depends upon being ready to start at daylight, and in which for the most part the mosquito has it all his own way as soon as the sun goes down, there is little time to fill up the pages of diaries. When a few moments are snatched for the purpose, it occurs to one to write down the hard facts of the daily life, which are not always as interesting as one would anticipate from the adventurous point of view. I am led, however, to hope that these pages which I offer to the reader may at all events serve a good purpose at the present moment. Our exploration of Lake Nyassa enables me to treat fully upon some of those extraordinary features which appear to be peculiar to these great inland seas, and which are now exciting so much curiosity. It also becomes a positive duty to set forth the slow but steady desire on the part of the native tribes to have Europeans amongst them; and then, again, it may stimulate future ventures if I recount the manner in which it was proved possible to carry a steam-vessel over very great natural obstacles, up mountainous passes and through break-neck gorges. To attempt this latter feat was the main reason of my setting out once more for Africa, and it is with deep thankfulness to Him who granted success to us that I enter upon the details of the enterprise. I must be still more venturesome in making excuses for personal shortcomings when I state that once in our little vessel steaming swiftly on Lake, Nyassa, and with time to look round, I came to the conclusion that if there was one thing less conducive than another to diligent penmanship, surely it was to be found in the |