Map of The 'Stevenson Road' Country

Map of the Stevenson Road (marked in black) which connected the northern end of Lake Malawi (formerly Lake Nyasa) with the southern end of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania.



The road was constructed by James Stevenson, a Glasgow merchant and a strong supporter of the London Missionary Society. Its stated goal was to support missionary activity in the region, though it was also intended to direct the lucrative ivory trade away from the northern routes which were controlled by Muslim traders.



The network of red lines show the many journeys of Dr. Kerr Cross, a missionary working in the area. One of Rudyard Kipling's lesser-known poems The Supplication of Kerr Cross paints an unflattering portrait of the reverend:

Creator of the countless suns,

We spread the message of the Cross,

Grant that we smuggle safe those guns,

And horribly avenge our loss!

So shall we teach, by death and death,

Goodwill to men and peace on earth.




Original colour. [AFR3987]