53 
Describing a pas in canoes down a narrow gorge with a 
swift current, he wrote :—‘‘ My canoe, having the best boatmen, 
passed safely, and we were ready to save Dr. Livingstone whom 
no one thought could escape, as his canoe got into a strong whirl- 
pool; while we looked at him for a moment, forgetting ourselves, 
our canoe was dashed with great force against the perpendicular 
rocks and instantly upset. In such a place it was not easy to save 
ourselves and the others could give little assistance.” 
‘Fortunately Dr. Livingstone’s canoe escaped .. . and by 
good luck one of my men got hold of a small rock and kept my 
canoe from going down the stream, in which case we should have 
had no chance. I was sucked under her by the current, but got 
up on a small corner of rock where I could just stand. One of the 
other canoes then came up to us and we got to a place where it 
was possible to climb up. In this unlucky accident my plants, 
notes drawings etc. all went with the exception of a few plants 
which I seized as they were about to sink. On getting out I found 
myself gine of the shirt on my back, a rifle and Lindley’s 
‘Vegetable Kingdom,’ with a long weary march before us to 
Tette, all clothes bedding etc. gone. However the plants I have 
saved are those from the Victoria Falls, so we have something 
new even out of this wreck. I am in a very unfit state for a 
journey now, without barometer, thermometer, lenses and surgical 
instruments, all of which went down the rapids, along with the 
chronometer, which will a Greenwich time in some quiet pool 
fifteen fathoms deep.” 
Describing the climate of the Zambesi, Kirk writes :—‘‘ When 
we come to the ascent of the Batoka hills it is very different. The 
river valley there is 1000 feet above the sea-level while the hills 
are from 3000 to 4000 feet. After making the ascent of 1000 
feet above the valley, we find an entirely new Flora, the climate 
becomes quite changed and one feels quite invigorated. In the 
valley there is a constant sleepiness which acts very injuriously on 
Europeans but of which they become insensible after some time, 
and the change is only perceived on going to some healthy country 
such as this when the marked difference is at once felt.”’ 
“The whole of the southern slope of these highlands is well 
wooded and reminded me much of the Manganja hills, but being 
much less humid there was a want of the many rich-coloured herbs 
which adorn the latter country.” 
‘“*We had some very cold nights on these slopes and the 
thermometer was observed on one stream bed at 25° and ice 
‘formed near the edge, at a short distance up the hills the tempera- 
ture was above freezing. On the table lands the air was not so 
cold at night while even during the day the sun never felt op- 
pressively hot. This was the cold season, but during the heat of 
September and October, previous to the rains, the air becomes 
much hotter than at the coast, and during our return crossing 
these highlands we had the mercury in the shade at 102° with a 
difference of 40° between the dry and wet bulbs.” 
