1849-52.] KOLOBENG—LAKE 'NGAMI. 117 



made to a kindred experience, — that which bore Abraham 

 from Chaldea, Moses from Egypt, and the greater part of 

 the tribes from the comfortable pastures of Gilead and 

 Bashan to the rugged hill-country of Judah and Ephraim. 

 Notwithstanding all the attractions of the richer countries, 

 they were borne onwards and forwards, not knowing 

 whither they went, instinctively feeling that they were 

 fulfilling the high purposes to which they were called. 

 In the later part of Livingstone's life, the necessity of 

 going forward to the close of the career that had 

 opened for him seemed to settle the whole question of 

 duty. 



But at this earlier stage, he had been conscientiously 

 scrutinising all that had any bearing on that question ; 

 and now that he finds himself close to his home, and can 

 thank God for the safe confinement of his wife, and the 

 health of the new-born child, he gathers together all the 

 providences that showed that in this journey, which 

 excited such horror even among his best friends, he had 

 after all been following the guidance of his Father. 

 First, in the matter of guides, he had been wonderfully 

 helped, notwithstanding a deep plot to deprive him of 

 any. Then there was the sickness of Sekdmi, whose 

 interest had been secured through his going to see him, 

 and prescribing for him ; this had propitiated one of 

 the tribes. The services of Shobo too, and the selection 

 of the northern route, proposed by Kamati, had been of 

 great use. Their going to Sesheke, and their detention 

 for two months, thus allowing them time to collect in- 

 formation respecting the whole country ; the river Chobe 

 not rising at its usual time; the saving of Livingstone's 

 oxen from the tsetse, notwithstanding their detention 

 on the Zouga; his not going with Mr. Oswell to a place 

 where the tsetse destroyed many of the oxen ; the better 

 health of Mrs. Livingstone during her confinement than 

 in any previous one ; a very opportune present they 



