The Lands of Cazembe: Lacerda's Journey to Cazembe in 1798 ; Transl. and Ann. by R.F. Burton. Also Journey of the Pombeiros P.J. Baptista and Amaro José, Across Africa from Angola to Tette on the Zambese, Transl. by B.A. Beadle ; and a Résumé of the Journey of M.M. Monteiro and Gamitto by C[harles] T[ilstone] Beke

Published in 1873 by the Royal Geographical Society, this volume preserves the accounts of early Portuguese explorations into the interior of Africa. The central focus is the expedition of Francisco de Lacerda, who attempted to establish a route between the Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique in 1798. His detailed journal provides critical observations on the Cazembe kingdom, reflecting the era’s burgeoning European interest in mapping the African continent during the period of colonial expansion.

The text was compiled and translated through the efforts of notable explorers and scholars of the time, most prominently Sir Richard Francis Burton. By translating these Portuguese manuscripts into English, Burton aimed to provide Victorian geographers with foundational intelligence regarding the geography and social structures of Central Africa. The inclusion of the Pombeiros' journey and Charles Tilstone Beke's résumé of the Monteiro and Gamitto expedition solidified the book as a comprehensive reference for contemporary exploration societies, documenting the arduous efforts to traverse the African interior.