Thesetwoworks，eachembodyingtheresultsofyearsoftravelandresearch，entirelyrevolutionizeallourtheoriesastothegeographicalandphysicalcharacterofCentralAfricaInsteadofloftymountainsandsandydeserts，wehaveawidebasin，orratherseriesofbasins，withlakesandgreatrivers，andasoilfertileevenwhencomparedwiththeaboundingexuberanceofourownWesternvalleysandprairies。
　　Barth，travelingsouthwardfromtheMediterranean，exploredthisregiontillwithineightdegreesoftheequatorLivingstone，travelingnorthwardfromtheCapeofGoodHope，approachedtheequatorfromthesouthasnearlyasBarthdidfromthenorthHethentraversedthewholebreadthofthecontinentdiagonallyfromthewesttotheeast。
　　HisspecialresearchescovertheentirespacebetweentheeighthandfifteenthparallelsofsouthlatitudeBetweentheregionsexploredbyBarthandLivingstoneliesanunexploredtractextendingeightdegreesoneachsideoftheequator，andoccupyingthewholebreadthofthecontinentfromeasttowestLieutenantBurton，famousforhisexpeditiontoMeccaandMedina，setoutfromZanzibarafewmonthssince，withthedesignoftraversingthisveryregion。
　　IfhesucceedsinhispurposehisexplorationswillfillupthevoidbetweenthoseofBarthandLivingstone。
　　DrLivingstone，withwhosetravelsweareatpresentspeciallyconcerned，isnoordinarymanThesonofaPresbyteriandeaconandsmalltraderinGlasgow；settoworkinacottonfactoryattenyearsold；
　　buyingaLatingrammarwithhisfirstearnings；workingfromsixinthemorningtilleightatnight，thenattendingevening-schooltillten，andpursuinghisstudiestillmidnight；atsixteenafairclassicalscholar，withnoinconsiderablereadinginbooksofscienceandtravels，gained，sentencebysentence，withthebookopenbeforehimonhisspinning-jenny；
　　botanizingandgeologizingonholidaysandatsparehours；
　　poringoverbooksofastrologytillhewasstartledbyinwardsuggestionstosellhissoultotheEvilOneasthepriceofthemysteriousknowledgeofthestars；soundlyfloggedbythegooddeaconhisfatherbywayofimpartingtohimalikingforBoston’s“FourfoldState“
　　andWilberforce’s“PracticalChristianity“；thenconvincedbythewritingsoftheworthyThomasDickthattherewasnohostilitybetweenScienceandReligion，embracingwithheartandmindthedoctrinesofevangelicalChristianity，andresolvingtodevotehislifetotheirextensionamongtheheathensucharetheleadingfeaturesoftheearlylifeofDavidLivingstone。
　　HewouldequiphimselfforthewarfareandafterwardfightwiththepowersofdarknessathisowncostSoattheageofnineteenaslim，loose-jointedladhecommencedthestudyofmedicineandGreek，andafterwardoftheology，intheUniversityofGlasgow，attendinglecturesinthewinter，payinghisexpensesbyworkingasacotton-spinnerduringthesummer，withoutreceivingafarthingofaidfromanyone。
　　HispurposewastogotoChinaasamedicalmissionary，andhewouldhaveaccomplishedhisobjectsolelybyhisowneffortshadnotsomefriendsadvisedhimtojointheLondonMissionarySociety。
　　Heofferedhimself，withahalfhopethathisapplicationwouldberejected，foritwasnotquiteagreeabletooneaccustomedtoworkhisownwaytobecomedependentinameasureuponothers。
　　Bythetimewhenhismedicalandtheologicalstudieswerecompleted，theOpiumWarhadrendereditinexpedienttogotoChina，andhisdestinationwasfixedforSouthernAfrica。
　　Hereachedhisfieldoflaborin1840HavingtarriedforthreemonthsattheheadstationatKuruman，andtakentowifeadaughterofthewell-knownmissionaryMrMoffat，hepushedstillfartherintothecountry，andattachedhimselftothebandofSechele，chiefoftheBakwains，or“Alligators“，aBechuanatribe。
　　Here，cuttinghimselfforsixmonthswhollyofffromallEuropeansociety，hegainedaninsightintothelanguage，laws，modesoflife，andhabitsoftheBechuanas，whichprovedofincalculableadvantageinallhissubsequentintercoursewiththem。
　　Sechelegaveareadyeartothemissionary’sinstructions。
　　“Didyourforefathersknowofafuturejudgment？”heasked。
　　“Theyknewofit。”repliedthemissionary，whoproceededtodescribethescenesofthelastgreatday。
　　“Youstartleme：thesewordsmakeallmybonestoshake；
　　IhavenomorestrengthinmeButmyforefatherswerelivingatthesametimeyourswere；andhowisitthattheydidnotsendthemwordabouttheseterriblethings？Theyallpassedawayintodarknesswithoutknowingwhithertheyweregoing。”
　　MrMoffathadtranslatedtheBibleintotheBechuanalanguage，whichhehadreducedtowriting，andSechelesethimselftolearntoread，withsomuchassiduitythathebegantogrowcorpulentfromlackofhisaccustomedexerciseHisgreatfavoritewasIsaiah。
　　“Hewasafineman，thatIsaiah；heknewhowtospeak。”hewaswonttosay，usingtheverywordsappliedbytheGlasgowProfessortotheApostlePaul。
　　HavingbecomeconvincedofthetruthofChristianity，hewishedhispeoplealsotobecomeChristians“Iwillcallthemtogether。”hesaid，“andwithourrhinoceros-skinwhipswewillsoonmakethemallbelievetogether。”
　　Livingstone，mindful，perhaps，oftheillsuccessofhisworthyfatherinthematterofWilberforceon“PracticalChristianity“，didnotfavortheproposedlineofargumentHewas，infact，innogreathastetourgeSecheletomakeafullprofessionoffaithbyreceivingtheordinanceofbaptism；forthechiefhad，inaccordancewiththecustomsofhispeople，takenanumberofwives，ofwhomhemust，inthiscase，putawayallexceptone。
　　Thehead-wifewasagreasyoldjade，whowasinthehabitofattendingchurchwithouthergown，andwhenherhusbandsentherhometomakehertoilet，shewouldpoutoutherthicklipsinunutterabledisgustathisnew-fanglednotions，whilesomeoftheotherwiveswerethebestscholarsintheschoolAfterawhileSecheletookthematterintohisownhands，senthissupernumerarywivesbacktotheirfriendsnotempty-handedandwasbaptized。
　　MrLivingstone’sstationwasintheregionsincerenderedfamousbythehuntingexploitsofGordonCummingHevouchesforthetruthofthewonderfulstoriestoldbythatredoubtableNimrod，whovisitedhimduringeachofhisexcursionsHehimself，indeed，hadanadventurewithalionquiteequaltoanythingnarratedbyCummingorAndersson，theresultofwhichwasonedeadlion，twoBechuanasfearfullywounded，hisownarmmarkedwithelevendistinctteeth-marks，thebonecrunchedtosplinters，andtheformationofafalsejoint，whichmarredhisshootingeverafter。
　　MrLivingstonehasarepublicancontemptforthe“KingofBeasts“。
　　Heisnothingbetterthananovergrownhulkingdog，notamatch，infairfight，forabuffaloIfatravelerencounterhimbydaylight，heturnstailandsneaksoutofsightlikeascaredgreyhound。
　　AllthetalkabouthismajesticroarissheertwaddleIttakesakeeneartodistinguishthevoiceofthelionfromthatofthesillyostrich。
　　Whenheisgorgedhefallsasleep，andacoupleofnativesapproachhimwithoutfearOnedischargesanarrow，thepointofwhichhasbeenanointedwithasubtlepoison，madeofthedriedentrailsofaspeciesofcaterpillar，whiletheotherflingshisskincloakoverhisheadThebeastboltsawayincontinently，butsoondies，howlingandbitingthegroundinagonyInthedark，oratallhourswhenbreeding，thelionisanuglyenoughcustomer；butifamanwillstayathomebynight，anddoesnotgooutofhiswaytoattackhim，herunslessriskinAfricaofbeingdevouredbyalionthanhedoesinourcitiesofbeingrunoverbyanomnibussosaysMrLivingstone。
　　WhentheliongrowsoldheleadsamiserablelifeUnabletomasterthelargergame，heprowlsaboutthevillagesinthehopeofpickingupastraygoatAwomanofchildventuringoutatnightdoesnotthencomeamissWhenthenativeshearofoneprowlingaboutthevillages，theysay，“Histeethareworn；hewillsoonkillmen。”
　　andthereuponturnouttokillhimThisistheonlyfoundationforthecommonbeliefthatwhenthelionhasoncetastedhumanfleshhewilleatnothingelseA“man-eater“isalwaysanoldlion，whotakestocannibalismtoavoidstarvationWhenhelivesfarfromhumanhabitations，andsocannotgetgoatsorchildren，anoldlionisoftenreducedtosuchstraitsastobeobligedtoliveuponmice，andsuchsmalldeer。
　　MrLivingstone’sstrictlymissionarylifeamongtheBakwainslastedeightornineyearsThefamilyaroseearly，and，afterprayersandbreakfast，wenttotheschool-room，wheremen，women，andchildrenwereassembledSchoolwasoverateleven，whenthehusbandsetabouthisworkasgardener，smith，orcarpenter，whilehiswifebusiedherselfwithdomesticmatters
　　bakingbread，ahollowinadesertedant-hillservingforanoven；
　　churningbutterinanearthenjar；runningcandles；makingsoapfromashescontainingsolittlealkalinematterthattheleyhadtobekeptboilingforamonthorsixweeksbeforeitwasstrongenoughforuseThewifewasmaid-of-all-workindoors，whilethehusbandwasJack-at-all-tradesoutside。
　　Threeseveraltimesthetriberemovedtheirplaceofresidence，andhewassomanytimescompelledtobuildforhimselfahouse，everystickandbrickofwhichwasputinplacebyhisownhands。
　　Theheatofthedaypast，anddinnerover，thewifebetookherselftotheinfantandsewingschools，whilethehusbandwalkeddowntothevillagetotalkwiththenativesThreenightsintheweek，afterthecowshadbeenmilked，publicmeetingswereheldforinstructioninreligiousandsecularmattersAllthesemultifariousdutieswerediversifiedbyattendanceuponthesick，andinvariouswaysaidingthepoorandwretchedBeinginsomanywayshelpfultothem，andhaving，besides，shownfromthefirstthathecouldknockthemupathardworkortraveling，wecannotwonderthatLivingstonewaspopularamongtheBakwains，thoughconversionsseemtohavebeenoftherarest。
　　Indeed，wearenotsurebutSechele’swastheonlycase。
　　Agreatdroughtsetintheveryfirstyearofhisresidenceamongthem，whichincreasedyearbyyearTheriverrandry；thecanalswhichhehadinducedthemtodigforthepurposeofirrigatingtheirgardenswereuseless；thefishdiedinsuchnumbersthatthecongregatedhyenasofthecountrywereunabletodevourtheputridmasses。
　　Therain-makerstriedtheirspellsinvainThecloudssometimesgatheredpromisinglyoverhead，butonlytorollawaywithoutdischargingadropuponthescorchedplainsThepeoplebegantosuspectsomeconnectionbetweenthenewreligionandthedrought“Welikeyou。”theysaid，“butwewishyouwouldgiveupthiseverlastingpreachingandprayingYouseethatwenevergetanyrain，whilethetribeswhoneverprayhaveanabundance。”
　　Livingstonecouldnotdenythefact，andhewassometimesdisposedtoattributeittothemalevolenceofthe“PrinceofthePoweroftheAir“，eagertofrustratethegoodwork。
　　Thepeoplebehavedwonderfullywell，thoughthescarcityamountedalmosttofamineThewomensoldtheirornamentstobuycornfromthemorefortunatetribesaround；thechildrenscouredthecountryforedibleroots；themenbetookthemselvestohuntingTheyconstructedgreattraps，called`hopos’，consistingoftwolinesofhedges，amilelong，farapartattheextremities，butconverginglikethesidesoftheletterV，withadeeppitatthenarrowendThenformingacircuitformilesaround，theydrovethegamebuffaloes，zebras，gnus，antelopes，andthelike
　　intothemouthofthehopo，andalongitsnarrowinglane，untiltheyplungedpell-mellinoneconfused，writhing，strugglingmassintothepit，wheretheywerespearedatleisure。
　　TheprecariousmodeoflifeoccasionedbythelongdroughtinterferedsadlywiththelaborsofthemissionStillworsewastheconductofBoerswhohadpushedtheirwayintotheBechuanacountryTheirtheorywasverysimple：“WearethepeopleofGod，andtheheathenaregiventousforaninheritance。”Ofthisinheritancetheyproceededtomakethemost。
　　Theycompelledthenativestoworkforthemwithoutpay，inconsiderationoftheprivilegeoflivingin“theircountry“。
　　Theymaderegularforays，carryingoffthewomenandchildrenasslaves。
　　Theywerecowardlyaswellasbrutal，compellingfriendlytribestoaccompanythemontheirexcursions，puttingtheminfrontasashield，andcoollyfiringovertheirheads，tilltheenemyfledindespair，leavingtheirwomen，children，andcattleasaprey。
　　Solongasfire-armscouldbekeptfromthenativestheBoersweresureofhavingitalltheirownwayButtraderscameinthetrainofthemissionaries，andsoldgunsandpowdertotheBechuanas。
　　Sechele’stribeprocurednolessthanfivemusketsTheBoerswerealarmed，anddeterminedtodrivemissionariesandtradersfromthecountry。
　　IncourseoftimeMrLivingstonebecameconvincedthatBiblesandpreachingwerenotallthatwasnecessary。
　　CivilizationmustaccompanyChristianization；andcommercewasessentialtocivilization；forcommerce，morespeedilythananythingelse，wouldbreakdowntheisolationofthetribes，bymakingthemmutuallydependentuponandserviceabletoeachother。
　　Itwaswellknownthatnorthward，beyondthedesert，layagreatlake，inthemidstofacountryrichinivoryandotherarticlesofcommerce。
　　Informeryears，whenrainshadbeenmoreabundant，thenativeshadfrequentlycrossedthisdesert；andsomewherenearthelakedweltafamouschief，namedSebituane，whohadoncelivedonfriendlytermsintheneighborhoodofSechele，whowasanxioustorenewtheoldacquaintance。
　　MrLivingstonedeterminedtoopenintercoursewiththisregion，inspiteofthethreatsandoppositionoftheBoers。
　　SothemissionarybecameatravelerandexplorerWhilelayinghisplansandgatheringinformation，theopportunearrivalofMessrsOswellandMurray，twowealthyEnglishmenwhohadbecomeenamoredwithAfricanhunting，enabledhimtoundertaketheproposedexpedition，MrOswellagreeingtopaytheguides，whowerefurnishedbySechele。
　　Thisexpedition，whichresultedinthediscoveryofLakeNgami，setoutfromthemissionarystationatKolobengonthe1stofJune，1849。
　　ThewaylayacrossthegreatKalaharidesert，sevenhundredmilesinbreadth。
　　ThisisasingularregionThoughithasnorunningstreams，andfewandscantywells，itaboundsinanimalandvegetablelife。
　　Men，animals，andplantsaccommodatethemselvessingularlytothescarcityofwaterGrassisabundant，growingintufts；
　　bulbousplantsabound，amongwhicharethe`leroshua’，whichsendsupaslenderstalknotlargerthanacrowquill，withatuber，afootormorebelowthesurface，aslargeasachild’shead，consistingofamassofcellulartissuefilledwithacoolandrefreshingfluid；
　　andthe`mokuri’，whichdepositsunderground，withinacircleofayardfromitsstem，amassoftubersofthesizeofaman’shead。
　　Duringyearswhentherainsareunusuallyabundant，theKalahariiscoveredwiththe`kengwe’，aspeciesofwater-melonAnimalsandmenrejoiceintherichsupply；antelopes，lions，hyenas，jackals，mice，andmendevouritwithequalavidity。
　　Thepeopleofthedesertconcealtheirwellswithjealouscare。
　　Theyfillthemwithsand，andplacetheirdwellingsatadistance，thattheirproximitymaynotbetraytheprecioussecret。
　　ThewomenrepairtothewellswithascoreorsoofostrichshellsinabagslungovertheirshouldersDiggingdownanarm’s-length，theyinsertahollowreed，withabunchofgrasstiedtotheend，thenramthesandfirmlyaroundthetubeThewaterslowlyfiltersintothebunchofgrass，andissuckedupthroughthereed，andsquirtedmouthfulbymouthfulintotheshellsWhenallarefilled，thewomengatheruptheirloadandtrudgehomeward。
　　Elands，springbucks，koodoos，andostrichessomehowseemtogetalongverywellwithoutanymoisture，exceptthatcontainedinthegrasswhichtheyeatTheyappeartoliveformonthswithoutdrinking；
　　butwheneverrhinoceroses，buffaloes，orgnusareseen，itisheldtobecertainproofthatwaterexistswithinafewmiles。
　　ThepassageoftheKalahariwaseffected，notwithoutconsiderabledifficulty，intwomonths，theexpeditionreachingLakeNgamionthe1stofAugust。
　　Astheyapproachedit，theycameuponaconsiderableriver。
　　“Whencedoesthiscome？”askedLivingstone。