NARRATIVE OF AN EXPEDITION TO THE ZAMBESI AND ITS TRIBUTARIES:

14 leaves of plates (1 folding): illustrations, folding frontispiece, folding map. Embossed cloth with gilding. Rubbed along edges, unevenly faded on spine. Book plate laid down on inside front cover.                                                                                                                         

David (1813-1873) and Charles (1821-1873) Livingstone led this expedition, sponsored by the British Government, to investigate the Zambesi River and open the area up for further exploration and exploitation. By 1858 David Livingstone was one of the most famous people in Great Britain and was at the forefront of attempts to suppress the slave trade and bring the Gospel to Africa. This expedition did not succeed as the Zambesi had rapids and obstacles to navigation by boat that David Livingstone had not noted on his first visit. It ended in acrimony and the Government withdrew funding. Criticism of the Livingstone brothers came from the press and members of the expedition, including Thomas Baines and Dr John Kirk. The expedition did, however, return with many samples for scientific institutions.