THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 337 



by reason of his helpless condition, his people believing him to 

 be bewitched. Mr. Helmore and his wife, who had succeeded 

 Livingstone at the Mabotse mission, had both died of fever, and 

 there was now scarcely a remembrance left of his labors among 

 the Makololo tribe. 



There was nothing now to detain him in that country, as the 

 fate of the mission destroyed all hope of any good coming from 

 further Christian labors in that district ; so they visited Victoria 

 Falls and then by canoe descended the rapids. We give a bird's- 

 eye view of these wonderful falls on page 562, showing the 

 very singular condensed and winding form of the river after its 

 plunge down the precipice. This is one of the most remarkable 

 curiosities of nature, even surpassing Niagara Falls or the won- 

 ders of the Yellowstone region. While going down the stream, 

 which is considered very dangerous, an old native offered his 

 services to pray for their safe passage for a small remuneration, 

 which was, however, declined, and when the canoes safely 

 descended through the chasm of boiling water, there was great 

 surprise manifested by the natives. Upon reaching a flat place 

 under the cliffs where an eddy was formed, a large herd of hip- 

 popotami, thirty or more in number, were found sporting ; while 

 a number of native boys were amusing themselves by pelting 

 them with stones. The native canoemen were afraid to pass 

 through the herd, declaring that there was a certain old bull who, 

 from anger or viciousness, would attack canoes if run in among 

 them. Livingstone, to frighten the animals, killed one, which 

 floated off but was caught a short distance below. An effort was 

 made to drag it from the water, but at this moment the huge 

 carcass was attacked by a dozen or more alligators, and despite 

 the throwing of stones, shooting and shouting, the ferocious 

 reptiles dragged the hippopotamus away and feasted upon it. 



Directly after this incident a fine water-buck was shot while 

 drinking from the river ; the animal fell and was instantly seized 

 by a crocodile, but being only wounded it regained its feet, 

 though still held by the reptile, and for some minutes there was 

 a dreadful contest. The water-buck got away, however, but as 

 92 w 



