ZOOLOGY. "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills."-Psalm 1. 10.. In connexion with this science we can only speak of the new species or varieties of animals discovered by Dr Living stone. The Leché, The leché was found by Dr Livingstone and Nakong, Po- his companions at Lake Ngami. It is a waterku, and Thian- antelope, of a light-brownish tallow colour1. yané. In the letter, dated Teté, he thus describes the others: "In the animal kingdom there are three antelopes which, I believe, have been hitherto unknown, all of which abound in the great valley, but nowhere else. One is specially adapted for treading on mud and marshy spots, by great length from point of toe to the little hoofs above the fetlock. It has a heavy gait, looks paunchy, and hides itself all but the nose in water." The native name of the first being Nakong or Setutunka. "Another little antelope abounds in great numbers near Seshéke; its cry of alarm is like that of the domestic fowl. It is called Thianyané. The third is named Poku, and it abounds in prodigious numbers above the Barotse. It is exactly like the Leché which was discovered when we went first to Lake Ngami, but considerably smaller in every way, and of a redder colour." It is scarcely necessary to mention elephants, lions, buffaloes, zebras, &c. as being constantly met with by him. These are described in most books on Zoology. We may notice a few interesting points brought out by our traveller in connexion with this subject, which may not be so generally known. 1 For a description and drawing of this animal, see Travels, pp. 70, 71. The immense quantities of game in some parts almost baffle description; especially on the banks of the Zambesi, between Linyanti and Teté. Our traveller observed that the farther he went north, the smaller the large game, such as elephants, become. Males in the south being 12 feet high at the withers, and those above 20° north latitude being 9 feet'. He was much struck with the instinct shewn by different wild animals in adapting themselves to new circumstances of security or danger, evincing an intelligence almost amounting to the cool calculations of reason. For instance, they soon found out the difference between the shorter range of bowshot and the longer range of gun-shot, after guns had been a little while introduced. SOME OTHER NATURAL SCIENCES. "For every creature of God is good."-1 Tim. iv. 4° Topics are here enlarged on according to their bearing on Dr Livingstone's discoveries, and not with respect to their own intrinsic merits. ASTRONOMY. In connexion with this sublime science our traveller has rendered invaluable services by determining the latitudes and longitudes of ninety places. These are all given in the Table at pp. 684-687, Travels. He determines the altitudes of fifteen places in the same Table. This is a hint which may well be taken by missionaries and others opening up little known or unexplored regions. ENTOMOLOGY. This science is particularized simply to introduce this curious insect, of which a brief account must be given. There are drawings of it on the title-page, and at p. 571, as well as a description at pp. 81, 82, Travels. Its existence is 1 Ibid. pp. 564. to us a novelty, and to Africa a scourge. This fly is so serious a pest, that a waggon or a company of horsemen is liable to be brought to a standstill by its ravages. It is not much larger than the common house-fly, yet its bite is certain death to the horse, ox, or dog. Our traveller lost forty-three oxen during one journey from its ravages; on another occasion, this little tyrant turned him back; and he was frequently obliged to travel by night in order to escape its annoyance. The reason why he travelled so far north from Linyanti before he turned to the west was as much to avoid the tsetse as the slave-dealer's path. It does not hurt man, game of most kinds, sucking calves, or the mule and ass. An animal wastes away after its bite, and perishes from extreme exhaustion. Horses are especially liable to injury. A person eating the flesh of cattle affected by it, is subject to carbuncle; even boiling does not destroy the virus in the flesh. This insect-plague spreads over nearly seven degrees of latitude. Linyanti and its neighbourhood are in the very centre of its habitat. Dr Livingstone concludes that large game, especially elephants, take it into a district. The following facts make him think so. It now exists on the Zambesi, in some parts to such an extent, that the people can keep no domestic animals except goats; whereas the same districts teemed with cattle in the palmy days of the Batoka tribes. Again, Londa is free both from large game and tsetse; yet the people have no cattle. Hence he concludes that this insect migrates with the larger game. Several other natural sciences are enriched by our traveller's labours; but in these, as in most others, he is as yet only the acknowledged pioneer. He saw birds in immense numbers and varieties, finding several new kinds on the Chobe and Leeambye. The quantities of fishes, reptiles, insects, &c. noticed, and partially described, are bewildering. Yet all are made for use, enjoyment, and for setting forth of the power, goodness, and mercy of God. SECTION III.-Dr Livingstone's labours, explorations, and discoveries considered as to their extent and results in their ETHNOLOGICAL ASPECT. "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord : and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.”Psalm xxii. 27, 28. The Unity of the Human Race further proved by Dr Livingstone's researches in South Africa. "We all are one man's sons."-Gen. xlii. 11. The physical history of our race is both an interesting and profitable study. In reference to the great controversies about the common origin of mankind we cannot do better than implicitly believe the Mosaic account of it, deriving us all from Adam and Eve. Differences in colour, speech, national characteristics, religious belief, moral, social and intellectual condition, may stagger some about the unity of the race; but be it remembered that these diversities are mostly referable to external circumstances. There remains one fact propounded in Scripture, and observable in human expespiritual unity rience, which incontrovertibly proves this unity. of mankind de- Outward differences undoubtedly exist, for which climate, mode of life, geographical situation, social status, and national bias amply account; but notwithstanding there is an inward unity of thought, passion, prejudice, sympathy and desire. The same pleasures, anxieties, crimes, virtues, vices, noble or mean actions and influences, affect alike in many instances the soul of the most cultivated philosopher and of the most uncivilized savage. Different species would not An inward or monstrable. have the same attributes. Physiology argues for such unity; more eloquently still do moral, psychological and theological science. Human nature, the human heart, the human soul, are in every place and at all times in unison. The marks of the fall, like springs of action, love, hate, and a common conviction and hope of immortality hereafter,-held with more or less clear assurance, everywhere animate mankind. Read history, hear tradition, ponder revelation, compare man with man, woman with woman, child with child; and travel the world over in order to arrive at conclusions from an induction of facts, and you must perceive this inward unity. Establish this, and the outward must follow, for the body is only the earth-made dwelling-place of the heaven-born soul. Dr Livingstone's books add to the weight of these conclusions; especially since he confirms them, not by direct argument, but by undesigned coincidence. Similar motives sway the untutored African in connexion with public and private virtues and vices as among ourselves. Many of their foibles are a mere reflex of ours; while some individuals among them display a grandeur of character difficult for us to surpass. Considering Sekeletu's opportunities and circumstances, where can be found a nobler man? or The outward kind. Respecting the question of this unity as seen corporeal outwardly or materially, Dr Pritchard satisfacunity of man- torily states: "I have endeavoured to shew, that no remarkable instance of variety in organization exists among human races to which a parallel may not be found in many of the inferior tribes; and, in the second place, that all human races coincide in regard to many particulars, in which tribes of animals, when specifically distinct, are always found to differ1." He further shews this truth by the fact that the physical characters of the human species in Africa are not unchange 1 Researches into the Physical History of Mankind, Vol. II. p. 1. |
