Thesetwoworks，eachembodyingtheresultsofyearsoftravelandresearch，entirelyrevolutionizeallourtheoriesastothegeographicalandphysicalcharacterofCentralAfricaInsteadofloftymountainsandsandydeserts，wehaveawidebasin，orratherseriesofbasins，withlakesandgreatrivers，andasoilfertileevenwhencomparedwiththeaboundingexuberanceofourownWesternvalleysandprairies。
Barth，travelingsouthwardfromtheMediterranean，exploredthisregiontillwithineightdegreesoftheequatorLivingstone，travelingnorthwardfromtheCapeofGoodHope，approachedtheequatorfromthesouthasnearlyasBarthdidfromthenorthHethentraversedthewholebreadthofthecontinentdiagonallyfromthewesttotheeast。
HisspecialresearchescovertheentirespacebetweentheeighthandfifteenthparallelsofsouthlatitudeBetweentheregionsexploredbyBarthandLivingstoneliesanunexploredtractextendingeightdegreesoneachsideoftheequator，andoccupyingthewholebreadthofthecontinentfromeasttowestLieutenantBurton，famousforhisexpeditiontoMeccaandMedina，setoutfromZanzibarafewmonthssince，withthedesignoftraversingthisveryregion。
IfhesucceedsinhispurposehisexplorationswillfillupthevoidbetweenthoseofBarthandLivingstone。
DrLivingstone，withwhosetravelsweareatpresentspeciallyconcerned，isnoordinarymanThesonofaPresbyteriandeaconandsmalltraderinGlasgow；settoworkinacottonfactoryattenyearsold；