Abstract
AT the Royal Geographical Society on Monday night, a paper was read by Mr. F. S. Arnot on his journey from Natal to Bihé and Benguella, and thence across the central plateau of Africa to the sources of the Zambesi and the Congo. Mr. Arnot reached Natal in September 1881, and has only just returned from his seven years' wanderings, during which he crossed the continent to some extent in the route of Livingstone. His paper forms an important supplement to the work of Livingstone, Cameron, Ivens and Capello, and the German traveller Reichart. Crossing from Natal obliquely, he struck the Zambesi near Sesheke, and ascended the river to Lealui, the town of Liwanika,.to endeavour to persuade the chief to let him proceed northwards among the Batonge and Mashashe. Unsuccessful in this, Mr. Arnot left Lealui in May 1884, and proceeded to Bihé and the coast. Returning to Bihé, Mr. Arnot proceeded eastwards, crossing the interesting country from which so many rivers take their rise, flowing north, south, and west, to the Congo, the Zambesi, and the Atlantic. He touched Lake Dilolo, which he has reduced to very small dimensions, and has done something to rectify our knowledge of the sources of the Zambesi. The main stream, according to Mr. Arnot, comes from the east, and of this the Leeba is only a tributary. He stayed for two years at the capital of the kingdom of the chief Msidi, of whom and his government he gives an interesting account. Here he was in the region of the sources of the Lualaba. Msidi, who is really a native of Unyanyembe, seems a man of some ability, and is rapidly extending his power. He and Kangombe between them have almost swallowed up the once powerful kingdom of Muata Yanvo. Mr. Arnot returns to the Bangweolo region in March next.
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Geographical Notes . Nature 39, 259 (1889). https://doi.org/10.1038/039259a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/039259a0