ii4 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. vi. 



rivers were found to be unsuitable for a settlement, and 

 the higher regions were too much exposed to the attacks 

 of Mosilikatse. Livingstone saw no prospect of obtaining 

 a suitable station, and with great reluctance he made up 

 his mind to retrace the weary road, and return to Kolo- 

 beng. The people were very anxious for him to stay, 

 and offered to make a garden for him, and to fulfil Sebi- 

 tuane's promise to give him oxen in return for those 

 killed by the tsetse. 



Setting out with the wagons on 13th August 1851, 

 the party proceeded slowly homewards. On 15 th 

 September 1851 Livingstone's Journal has this unex- 

 pected and simple entry : " A son, William Oswell Living- 

 ston, 1 born at a place we always call Bellevue." On the 

 18th: "Thomas attacked by fever; removed a few 

 miles to a high part on his account. Thomas was seized 

 with fever three times at about an interval of a fort- 

 night." Not a word about Mrs. Livingstone, but three 

 pages of observations about medical treatment of fever, 

 thunderstorms, constitutions of Indian and African 

 people, leanness of the game, letter received from 

 Directors approving generally of his course, a gold watch 

 sent by Captain Steele, and Gordon Cumming's book, " a 

 miserably poor thing." Amazed, we ask, Had Living- 

 stone any heart ? But ere long we come upon a copy 

 of a letter, and some remarks connected with it, that 

 give us an impression of the depth and strength of 

 his nature, unsurpassed by anything that has yet oc- 

 curred. 



"The following extracts," he says, "show in what 

 light our efforts are regarded by those who, as much as 

 we do, desire that the ' gospel may be preached to all 

 nations.' " Then follows a copy of a letter which had been 



1 He had intended to call him Charles, and announced this to his father ; but, 

 finding that Mr. Oswell, to -whom he was so much indebted, would be pleased 

 with the compliment, he changed his purpose and the name accordingly. 



