CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 360, 5 April 1861, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

(From the Eobart Town Advertiser.)

January 29. Important news of the Livingstone party on the Zambezi lias just come to hand via Transvaal; and Mr. Baldwin, who has recently returned thence to Potchefstrooni, confirms the particulars of the sad death of the Rev. Mr. Helmore and family and Mrs. Price, and family in the desert. The Oude Emigrant reports as follows :—

The arrival of Mr. Baldwin, the indefatigable traveller and hunter from Zambezi, en route to Natal, places much ihterestinginformation within our reach. We-1 will premise' by stating that Mr. Baldwin has the honor of being the first white man who has penetrated to the Zambezi from the coast, and the second white man who ever saw the celebrated Victoria Falls which Dr. Livingstone discovered five years ago. Mr. Baldwin, after a most eventful and successful hunt .as far as Moselikatze's country, left his waggons on account of the fly, and his people having refused to accompany him, he gallantly started on foot, but unaccompanied. With that steadfast friend, his gun, and a pocket compass, he struck for the Victoria Falls. " He had no guide but a map and Dr. Livingstone's descrip- ;, tion. After much distress, owing to the scarcity of water, and ignorance of the country, interruption from wild animals, &c.,he, to hi 3 own great astonishment, hit the river not three miles above the Falls. He. was obliged to remain by the river two days before any Kafirs, would come over in their canoes. The river was in this vplttce at least 4000 yards, wide, with an immense :nuoiber of islands, some of large extent. At length a canoe crossed, and as Mr. Baldwin had shot a rhinoceros, he regaled the Kafirs and sent some meat to the chief. The next, day other boats came to bring him over; it had been a sultry day, and Mr. Baldwin could not resist the tempting appearance of the cool water, arid with the impulse plunged in; he got out again 'fortunately- without accident. He was not aware that the river was swarming with alligators ; tbe natives considered it dangerous even to put their hand into the water. A few days after Mr. Baldwin saw a Kafir in the act of taking water out of the river when one of those monsters sprung on him, swam about 500 yards with the poor fellow, and sunk to devour him. Mr. Baldwin was introduced to the petty captain of the Botakas, who asked him who he was ? Answer: An Englishman. How did you find your way here ? Showed them the compass. This was considered a very poor answer, so Mr. Baldwin explained to them as well as he could that Livingstone told him to come. At the dame of Livingstone they showed much interest; where had he seen him ? He had never seen him. Then how could Livingstone tell him to oome if he never saw him ? &0., till our friend got bewildered. As soon as possible Mr, Baldwin was off to the far-famed falls, the roar of which was fearful even at three miles' distance, Mr. Baldwin was lost in amazement at these wonderful works of nature, and the description given of them by Livingstone is tameaod underdrawn for the reason that words cannot describe the wild and fearful grandeur of the scene.

On his return to the Kafir village, he was summarily taken prisoner, and the most unpleasant part of the business was he had no idea for what offence. He described this part of his adventures as causing him a great deal of uneasiness. . With the river before him, deprived of his gun, bis enthusiasm waned but not his pluck, and he remained in this position for several days, when most opportunely and unexpectedly Dr. Livingstone arrived accompanied by his brother Charles and Dr. Kirk, wilh a retinue of seventy Makalolos,, all armed with double-barrelled guns. The Doctor was on his way to Sekeletu from Tete to Linyante, "76 days on foot from Tete, The only animals they had with them were two donkeys, the use of which Dr. Kirk and Mr>. C. Livingstone were often glad to avail themselves of; but Dr. Livingstone footed it the whole distance. He was iv good health and in excellent fettle. The Livingstone party were not.a little astonished at finding Dr. Baldwin there. A favor (hat Mr. Baldwin asked was Dr. Livingstone's good services to get him out of a quandary, when the explanations were singularly amusiug. The Kan*is said, "This man comes here 'in a most wonderful manner; and the first thing he does is to jump into the river, which is like death. Next he goes to the Falls, and attempts to go where a monkey would not dare venture. We ■ were sure he would kill himself, and theu some one would come and ask. where he was, and they would not believe he killed himself; but would say—we killed him. So we took care of him, as he was seeking his death." The doctor set matters to right, and they stayed several days together. The doctor told Mr. Baldwin that he bad penetrated to latitude 141 S., and discovered Lake Shirwe, ninety miles long, and another lake, which from description, must be more than 300 miles long. Iv the neighborhood is a table mountain twenty miles long. The surrounding country is most salubrious, and good for cattle, sheep, &o. A great qunntUy of cotton is grown by the uatives; and sugar, coffee, and in fact all tropical productions there, aud a finer field for colonization is not to be found-iu the world. Dr. Livingstone was very communicative, but it would be unfair to forestall the doctor, who would lose no time in mak> ing public his latest discoveries.

Mr. Baldwin confirms the report of the death of the Rev. Mr. Heimore, wife, and three children. Also, Mrs. Price and one child. The eldest sou of Mr. Heimore recovered. Mr. Price left the lake still very ill, having with him young Helinore. Mr. Price is of opinion that the Kafirs poisoned them; this Mr. Baldwin doubts.

Mr. M'Kenzie, with wife and child, was last heard of four days from Sicomo, Cowana; his oxen wero quite knocked up. They are doubtless by this time atKururaan,

The sad fate of this party ought to be a warning to other parties whose enthusiasm and earnestness in the "good cause" ducide them to try and do good to the benighted Makololo. No party ought to attempt to penetrate those parts if without experience, or unaccompanied by men who know the country. There is far less danger in travelling from place to place than in settling on or.c spot. Mr. Helmore's mistake was in staying at the Linyanti, a most unhealthy place; but unfortunately he did not know it. Tete is found to be very healthy, and Dr. Living* etone recouameuda it for a mission station.