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。