iS49-5 2 -] KOLOBENG—LAKE 'NGAMI. 99 



revived the project that had slumbered for years in his 

 mind — to be the first of the missionaries who should look 

 on its waters. At Kolobeng, too, the settlement was in 

 such straits, owing to the excessive drought which dried 

 up the very river, that the people would be compelled to 

 leave it and settle elsewhere. The want of water, and 

 consequently of food, in the gardens, obliged the men to 

 be often at a distance hunting, and the women to be 

 absent collecting locusts, so that there was hardly any 

 one to come either to church or school. Even the observ- 

 ance of the Sabbath broke down. If Kolobeng should 

 have to be abandoned, where would Livingstone go next? 

 It was certainly worth his while to look if a suitable 

 locality could not be found in Sebituane's territory. He 

 had resolved that he would not stay with the Bakwains 

 always. If the new region were not suitable for himself, 

 he might find openings for native teachers ; at all events, 

 he would go northwards and see. Just before he started, 

 messengers came to him from Lechulatebe, chief of the 

 people of the lake, asking him to visit his country, and 

 giving such an account of the quantity of ivory that the 

 cupidity of the Bakwain guides was roused, and they 

 became quite eager to be there. 



On 1st June 1849 Livingstone accordingly set out 

 from Kolobeng. Sechele was not of the party, but two 

 English hunting friends accompanied him, Mr. Oswell 

 and Mr. Murray — Mr. Oswell generously defraying the 

 cost of the guides. Sekomi, a neighbouring chief who 

 secretly wished the expedition to fail, lest his monopoly 

 of the ivory should be broken up, remonstrated with them 

 for rushing on to certain death — they must be killed by 

 the sun and thirst, and if he did not stop them, people 

 would blame him for the issue. " No fear," said Living- 

 stone, "people will only blame our own stupidity." 



The great Kalahari desert, of which Livingstone has 

 given so full an account, lay between them and the lake. 



