LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNEY. 219 



took a turn, and when he sank into a deep elephant's footprint he 

 required two to Hft him so as to gain a footing on the level, which 

 was over waist deep. Others went on and bent down the grass so 

 as to insure some footing on the side of the elephant's path. Every 

 ten or twelve paces brought us to a clear stream, flowing fast in its 

 own channel, while over all a strong current came bodily through 

 all the rushes and aquatic plants. 



"It took us a full hour and a half for all to cross over. We 

 had to hasten on the building of sheds after crossing the second 

 rivulet, as rain threatened us. At four in the afternoon it came on 

 pouring cold rain, when we w^ere all under cover. We are anxious 

 about food. The lake is near, but we are not sure of provisions. 

 Our progress is distressingly slow. Wet, wet, wet, sloppy weather 

 truly, and no observations, except that the land near the lake being 

 very level, the rivers spread out into broad friths and sponges." 



ACROSS THE CHAMBEZE AT LAST! 



Thus, wet, sick, and weary, often short of food and doubtful 

 of his way, the indomitable hero still struggled on, his courage 

 sustained by his hope of yet reaching the Chambeze, rounding the 

 lake, and passing the confluence of the Lualaba on the west; his 

 heart cheered by the ever-increasing love of his men, especially of 

 the seven already mentioned, who vied with each other in their 

 eagerness to carry their dear master, to build the tent for his recep- 

 tion, to save for him the best of the provisions they were able to 

 procure. 



The whole of February and the first half of the ensuing month 

 were consumed in wandering backwards and forwards amongst 

 the swamps of the north-east shores of Bangweolo, but about the 

 20th of March the camp was at last pitched on the left bank of the 

 Chambeze, close to its entry of the lake, and the question of its con- 

 nection with the Lualaba was to some extent solved. Late in March 

 canoes were actually obtained, and, embarking in them, our explorer 

 and his men paddled across the intervening swamps to the Cham- 

 beze, crossed a river flowing into it, and then the main stream itself, 

 losing one slave girl by drowning in the process. 



