374 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



slaves, which they desired for wives, and refused to receive a man 

 slave even as a present. This was a sore disappointment to the 

 Arabs, who scarcely knew what to do with their slaves, unless 

 they liberated them. They finally concluded to go further north 

 and try traffic with other natives. 



Livingstone met with no better success than the Arabs, for 

 with all his persuasion and proffers of presents he could not hire 

 a canoe, and was forced to abandon his intended exploration of 

 the Lualaba. 



The forests which lined the road were exceedingly dense, and 

 Livingstone noticed that wherever any clearing had been attempted 

 gigantic grass usurped the place in a very short time ; this grass, 

 however, is burned frequently. Large trees do not readily suc- 

 cumb to the fire, but put out new wood below the burnt places. 

 Upon these Livingstone found large numbers of parrots building 

 their nests, while above the natives construct straw huts and live 

 secure from the attacks of wild animals. The men make a stair 

 up one hundred and fifty feet by tying climbing plants (called 

 binayoba) around, at about four feet distance, as steps. Near 

 the confluence of the Luamo men build huts on this same species 

 of tree for safety against the arrows of their enemies. 



A SINGING FROG AND FISH THAT GIVE MILK. 



BEING defeated in his purpose of exploring the river, Living- 

 stone returned to Bambarre, and there joined the Arabs in a 

 journey to the North. The route lay through a marshy district, 

 and so many streams had to be crossed that fever again attacked 

 him, which, aided by a severe spell of dysentery, so exhausted 

 his strength that he could scarcely support himself. They came 

 to a village among fine gardens of maize, bananas, ground-nuts 

 and cassava, butthe villagers said, " Go on to next village," which 

 meant, "We don't want you here." The main body of the 

 Arabs was about three miles in advance ; but Livingstone was so 

 iveak he sat down in the next hamlet, and asked for a hut to rest 

 in. A woman with leprous hands gave him hers, a nice clean 

 Okie, and a very heavy rain came on : of her own accord she pre- 

 pared dumplings of green maize, pounded and boiled, which are 



