3o8 UVJNCSTONE'S MISSIONARY TRAVELS 



liis ability to dispense with water — as he roams, one of enormous herds, 

 across the "desert." The natives eat of the scarlet cucumbers and the 

 succulent watermelons which in many districts carpet the ground ; and 

 they drink of the water-bearing tubers which, found a foot or so below 

 the surface of the soil, produce a liquor of surprising coolness. In 

 short, despite the monotony of the vegetation and the absolute want 

 of surface water, the Kalahari Desert supports a large population, 

 numerous animals, fruits of several kinds in great quantity, and in 

 many parts an abundance of grass. Hostile in aspect, it has a not 

 unkindly heart: yet its character is such that the stranger may die 

 where the native would find enough and to spare. 



After traveling for about a month, suffering at times a good deal 

 from thirst, and being deceived at others by the glittering salt-pans 

 which appeared through mirage to be lakes or rivers, Livingstone and 

 his party reached the Zouga River. From this point to the Ngami 

 Lake the route was comparatively easy; the river ran a southeasterly 

 course from the lake, and they had but to follow the river. 



It was while ascending the Zouga thaC Livingstone first discov- 

 ered the nature of the region which is generally called South Central 

 Africa. That vast plateau of sand, which "arm-chair geographers" 

 had decided was the true character of this region, disappeared for- 

 ever when Livingstone inquired into the source of the Tamanakle, an 

 affluent of the Zouga, and asked from what sort of land it came. The 

 answer that was given him was this: "From a country full of rivers 

 — so many no one can tell their number — and full of large trees!" 

 That answer opened up such a vista before him that Livingstone 

 declared, on at last sighting the much-talked-of lake, that its discovery 

 seemed of little importance. He was already, in spirit, traveling upon 

 the waterways and reposing under the umbrageous forest trees of the 

 Zambesi basin. 



On the 1st of August tke lake w^as sighted at its northeast end. 

 It has proved to have, usually, an area of three hundred square miles ; 

 but, like some other African lakes, it largely expands and contracts 

 in accordance with the wet or the dry season. When the lake is full 

 the w^ater is fresh ; when low, it is brackish. To-day it may be deep 

 in almost every part; three months hence a canoe might be punted 

 over its bosom for miles at a time. 



