proposed at the termination of my first journey。
I have no doubt that missionaries will take advantage of the chance that
has resulted from the suppression of the slave trade and the
establishment of a government。 At the same time； should they attempt a
settlement in the neighbourhood of Gondokoro； they must be prepared with
an inexhaustible stock of patience when dealing with the Baris。
The Madi and Shooli tribes would be found tractable and more capable of
religious instruction。 It is my opinion that the time has not yet
arrived for missionary enterprise in those countries； but at the same
time a sensible man might do good service by living among the natives；
and proving to their material minds that persons do exist whose
happiness consists in doing good to others。 The personal qualifications
and outfit for a single man who would thus settle among the natives
should be various。 If he wished to secure their attention and
admiration； he should excel as a rifle shot and sportsman。 If musical；
he should play ‘ the Highland bagpipes。 He should be clever as a
conjurer； and be well provided with conjuring tricks； together with a
magic lantern； magnetic battery； dissolving views； photographic
apparatus； coloured pictorial illustrations； &c。； &c。 He should be a
good surgeon and general doctor； &c。； and be well supplied with drugs；
remembering that natives have a profound admiration for medical skill。
A man who in full Highland dress could at any time collect an audience
by playing a lively air with the bagpipes； would be regarded with great
veneration by the natives； and would be listened to when an archbishop
by his side would be totally disregarded。 He should set all psalms to
lively tunes； and the natives would learn to sing them immediately。
Devotional exercises should be chiefly musical。
In this manner a man would become a general favourite； and if he had a
never…failing supply of beads； copper rods； brass rings for arms；
fingers； and ears； gaudy cotton handkerchiefs； red or blue blankets；
zinc mirrors； red cotton shirts； &c。； to give to his parishioners； and
expected nothing in return； he would be considered a great man； whose
opinion would carry a considerable weight； provided that he only spoke
of subjects which he thoroughly understood。
A knowledge of agriculture； with a good stock of seeds of useful
vegetables and cereals； iron hoes； carpenter's and blacksmith's tools；
and the power of instructing others in their use； together with a
plentiful supply of very small axes； would be an immense recommendation
to a lay missionary who should determine to devote some years of his
life to the improvement of the natives。
In the magnificent equatorial portions of Africa there is a great field
for British enterprise； and much might be accomplished by lay
missionaries； who would at the commencement avoid theological teaching；
until by other means they should have gained an ascendency over the
minds of the natives。 By slow degrees confidence might be established；
and much may be effected by good example。 。 。 。
The geography of Central Africa； that has made great strides within the
last few years； will now be rapidly extended。 The fact of an established
government under the direction of my able successor； Colonel Gordon；
R。E。； is sufficient to assure the most sceptical that the future will be
rich in geographical discoveries。
It is hoped that the steamer which I carried up to Gondokoro will be
transported to the Albert N'yanza early in the year 1875。 It is
impossible to foretell the result of steam communication on the great
inland sea M'wootan N'zige。
I do not love to dwell upon geographical theories； as I believe in
nothing but actual observation； but I cannot quite disbelieve my native
informants； who assured me that they had travelled to Ujiji by canoe
from Chibero on the Albert N'yanza。
By the latest intelligence from Lieutenant Cameron； dated Ujiji； 28th
February； 1874； the mean of many observations for altitude of the
Tanganyika Lake taken with mercurial barometer； aneroids； and boiling
water thermometers； gives 2；573 feet above the sea…level。
The corrected altitude of the Albert N'yanza； taken by me at Vacovia； N。
lat。 1 degree 14'； March 14； 1864； is 2；720。 The uncorrected or the
absolute observation of the instrument was 2；448。
Whenever Lieutenant Cameron shall return home； it will be interesting to
observe the results of his corrected observations； as they already so
closely approach the level of the Albert N'yanza。
As the Khedive's expedition under Colonel Gordon will shortly have the
advantage of a steamer on the Albert Lake or M'wootan N'zige； the
question of a connection between the two lakes will be definitely
settled。
When that question shall have been resolved； geographers must turn their
attention to the great river Sobat； which is by far the most important
affluent of the Nile。
Although during my recent expedition I have not travelled over much new
ground； the advantages to geography are considerable； owing to the
professional observations of Lieutenant Baker； R。N。； to whom I confided
the entire charge of the topographical department。 Some slight
corrections have been made in observations for longitude taken during my
first expedition； and as every place is now rigidly attested on the map；
that portion of Central Africa is most thoroughly investigated； and the
astronomical positions of all principal points and stations are
incontestable。
The fact of this thorough exploration； and the establishment of the
Egyptian government； now afford a firm base for all future travellers。
The good work of one man can be carried on by his successor。 Formerly it
was impossible to render the necessary support to an explorer in Central
Africa。 A distant country cannot plunge into war with a savage potentate
of the equatorial Nile Basin because he has either captured an explorer
or devoured a missionary。
There was only one step practicable if the improvement of Africa were to
be attempted。 Egypt was the only country that could form a government by
the extension of her frontier to the equator。 This would insure the
safety of future travellers where hitherto the life of an individual had
no guarantee。
This annexation is now effected； and our relations with the Khedive
assure us that the heart of Africa will be thrown open to the civilizing
influence of the North。
When the railway shall be completed from Cairo to Khartoum； there will
be direct communication by rail and river。 Countries that are eminently
adapted for the cultivation of cotton； coffee； sugar； and other tropical
productions will be brought within the influence of the commercial
world； and the natives； no longer kidnapped and torn from their homes；
will feel the benefits of industry； as they now feel the blessings of
protection。
It is well known that the greatest difficulties lie in the first
footsteps of a great enterprise； but those difficulties are overcome；
and patience and perseverance will at length perfect the good work。 The
impression of civilization must be gradually and slowly engraved upon
Central Africa； and those who work in this apparently hopeless
undertaking must not be appalled by the difficulties of the task。
In the share that I have taken during nine years passed in Africa； I
have simply represented one of those atoms of which Great Britain is
composed。 I deeply regret that personally I have not had the honour of
serving my Queen； but I trust that indirectly I have worked out that
principle； which England was the first to initiate； expressed in the
word 〃Freedom；〃 which； we maintain； is the natural inheritance of man。
Mingled with the regret that I was not in the service of Her Majesty； is
the pleasure that I feel in testifying to the able manner in which the
Royal Navy was represented； throughout a long and trying expedition； by
Lieutenant Julian Alleyne Baker； R。N。 This energetic young officer
rendered me the greatest assistance； and has left a vivid impression on
the minds of the natives； and of the Egyptian troops； of the activity；
and the straightforward； manly character that has always distinguished
British sailors in whatever duty they have had to perform； whether on
sea or land。
I return my acknowledgments of the faithful and courageous services of
Lieutenant…Colonel Abd…el…Kader； and other officers who accompanied me
through every difficulty with patience and devotion。
I also thank Mr。 Marcopolo； my intelligent and trustworthy secretary and
chief storekeeper； at the same tune that I acknowledge the services of
those industrious English engineers and mechanics who so thoroughly
supported the well…known reputation of their class by a determination to
succeed in every work that was undertaken。 Their new steamer； the
Khedive； remains upon the White Nile an example of their energy and
capability。
Lastly； I must acknowledge the able assistance that I have received； in
common with every person connected with the inland expedition； from my
wife； who cared for the sick when we were without a medical man； and
whose gentle aid brought comfort to many whose strength might otherwise
have failed。 During a period of fourteen months； with a detachment of
212 officers and men； exclusive of many servants and camp…followers； I
ONLY LOST ONE MAN FROM SICKNESS； and he was at an out…station。
In moments of doubt and anxiety she was always a thoughtful and wise
counsellor； and much of my success through nine long years passed in
Africa is due to my devoted companion。
The foundation for a great future has been laid； a remote portion of the
African race hitherto excluded from the world's history has been brought
into direct communication with the superior and more civilized races；
legitimate trade has been opened； therefore； accepting commerce as the
great agent of civilization； the work is actually in progress。
Fortified posts extend to within two degrees of the equator。 The
alliance with M'tese； the king of Uganda； enabled me not only to
communicate by letter （addressed to Livingstone） in the distant country
of Unyanyembe； but a reply was sent by Lieutenant Cameron； together with