THE -WORLD'S WO:XDEI;S. 323 



rocks, brought me to an island situated in the middle of the river 

 and on the edge of the lip over which the water rolls. In com- 

 ing hither there was danger of being swept down by the streams 

 which rushed along on each side of the island ; but the river was 

 now low, and we sailed where it is totally impossible to go when 

 the water is high. But, though we had reached the island, and 

 were within a few yards of the spot, a view from which would 

 solve the whole problem, I believe that no one could perceive 

 where the vast body of water went ; it seemed to lose itself in 

 the earth, the opposite lip of the fissure into which it disappeared 

 being only 80 feet distant. At least I did not comprehend it 

 until, creeping with awe to the verge, I peered down into a large 

 rent which had been made from bank to bank of the broad Zam- 

 besi, and saw the stream of a thousand yards broad leap down 

 a hundred feet, and then become suddenly compressed into a 

 space of fifteen or twenty yards. The entire falls are simply a 

 crack made in a hard basaltic rock from the right to the left 

 bank of the Zambesi and then prolonged from the left bank 

 away through thirty or forty miles of hills." 



These falls are, without doubt, one of the greatest natural 

 curiosities on the earth, and should they ever become accessible 

 to the civilized world they will attract millions of tourists and 

 pleasure-seekers. Victoria Falls may in truth be designated as 

 one of the " World's Wonders." 



After indulging in a long view of the falls, measuring the 

 stream, and estimating the character of the surrounding soil for 

 garden purposes, Livingstone planted some peach and apricot 

 seeds, and some coffee grains, on the little island shown in the 

 illustration, and then proceeded on his journey to the east coast. 



CURIOUS FRIENDSHIP AMONG ANIMALS AND BIRDS. 



ON the Kolomo river he saw an elephant which had no tusks, 

 a sight quite as rare in Africa as it is to see one with tusks in 

 Ceylon. The elephant was extremely wary and made off with 

 great haste at sight of the men. Buffaloes were plentiful, and 

 shooting into a herd, Livingstone brought one down ; the others, 

 not perceiving their enemy, tried to gore their wounded comrade, 



