i 7 4 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. ix. 



loss of time and consumption of goods caused by his 

 illness on the way back prevented him from accomplish- 

 ing his purpose now. 



Not only was the party now better armed than be- 

 fore, but the good name of Livingstone had also become 

 better known along the line, and during his return jour- 

 ney he did not encounter so much opposition. We 

 cannot fail to be struck with his extraordinary care for 

 his men. It was his earnest desire to bring them all 

 back to their homes, and in point of fact the whole 

 twenty-seven returned in good health. How carefully 

 he must have nursed them in their attacks of fever, and 

 kept them from unnecessary exposure, it is hardly pos- 

 sible for strangers adequately to understand. 



On reaching the country of the Barotse, the home of 

 most of them, a day of thanksgiving was observed (23d 

 July 1855). The men had made little fortunes in Loanda, 

 earning sixpence a day for weeks together by helping to 

 discharge a cargo of coals or, as they called them, " stones 

 that burned." But, like Livingstone, they had to part 

 with everything on the way home, and now they were in 

 rags ; yet they were quite as cheerful and as fond of 

 their leader as ever, and felt that they had not travelled 

 in vain. They quite understood the benefit the new 

 route would bring in the shape of higher prices for tusks 

 and the other merchandise of home. On the thanks- 

 giving day — 



" The men decked themselves out in their best, for all had managed 

 to preserve their suits of European clothing, which, with their white 

 and red caps, gave them a rather dashing appearance. They tried to 

 walk like soldiers, and called themselves ' my braves.' Having been 

 again saluted with salvos from the women, we met the whole popula- 

 tion, and having given an address on divine things, I told them we 

 had come that day to thank God before them all for His mercy in 

 preserving us from dangers, from strange tribes and sicknesses. We 

 had another service in the afternoon. They gave us two fine oxen to 

 slaughter, and the women have supplied us abundantly with milk and 

 meal. This is all gratuitous, and I feel ashamed that I can make no 



