5o DA FID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. hi. 



' He is not strong, he is quite slim, and only appears stout because he 

 puts himself into those bags (trousers) ; he will soon knock up.' This 

 caused my Highland blood to rise, and made me despise the fatigue of 

 keeping them all at the top of their speed for days together, and 

 until I heard them expressing proper opinions of my pedestrian 

 powers." 



We have seen how full Livingstone's heart was of the 

 missionary spirit ; how intent he was on making friends 

 of the natives, and how he could already preach in one 

 dialect, and was learning another. But the activity of 

 his mind enabled him to give attention at the same time 

 to other matters. He was already pondering the structure 

 of the great African Continent, and carefully investigating 

 the process of desiccation that had been going on for a 

 long time and had left much uncomfortable evidence of 

 its activity in many parts. In the desert, he informs 

 his friend Watt that no fewer than thirty-two edible 

 roots and forty-three fruits grew without cultivation. 

 He had the rare faculty of directing his mind at the full 

 stretch of its power to one great object, and yet, 

 apparently without effort, giving minute and most care- 

 ful attention to many other matters,— all bearing, how- 

 ever, on the same great end. 



A very interesting letter to Dr. Risdon Bennett, dated 

 Kuruman, 18th Dec. 1841, gives an account of his first 

 year's work from the medical and scientific point of view. 

 First, he gives an amusing picture of the Bechuana 

 chiefs, and then some details of his medical practice : — 



" The people are all under the feudal system of government, the 

 chieftainship is hereditary, and although the chief is usually the 

 greatest ass, and the most insignificant of the tribe in appearance, the 

 people pay a deference to him which is truly astonishing. ... I 

 feel the benefit often of your instructions, and of those I got through 

 your kindness. Here I have an immense practice. I have patients 

 now under treatment who have walked 130 miles for my advice ; and 

 when these go home, others will come for the same purpose. This is 

 the country for a medical man if he wants a large practice, but he 

 must leave fees out of the question ! The Bechuanas have a great deal 

 more disease than I expected to find amongst a savage nation ; but 



