CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF AFRICA -- ITS ANCIENT CIVILIZATION -- LITTLE INFORMATION EXTANT IN RELATION TO LARGE PORTIONS OF THE CONTINENT -- THE GREAT FIELD OF SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION AND MISSIONARY LABOR -- ACCOUNT OF A NUMBER OF EXPLORING EXPEDITIONS, INCLUDING THOSE OF MUNGO PARK, DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON, AND OTHERS -- THEIR PRACTICAL RESULTS -- DESIRE OF FURTHER INFORMATION INCREASED -- RECENT EXPLORATIONS, NOTABLY THOSE OF DR. LIVINGSTONE AND MR. STANLEY, REPRESENTING THE NEW YORK “HERALD” NEWSPAPER 17