1854-56-] FROM LOANDA TO QUILIMANE. 177 



In writing from Linyanti to his wife, Livingstone 

 makes the best he can of his long detention. She seems 

 to have put the matter playfully, wondering what the 

 " source of attraction " had been. He says : — 



" Don't know what apology to make you for a delay I could not 

 shorten. But as you are a mercifully kind-hearted, dame, I expect you 

 will write out an apology in proper form, and I shall read it before 

 you with as long a face as I can exhibit. Disease was the chief 

 obstacle. The repair of the wagon was the ' source of attraction ' in 

 Cape Town, and the settlement of a case of libel another ' source of 

 attraction.' They tried to engulf me in a law-suit for simply asking 

 the postmaster why some letters were charged double. They were so 

 marked in my account. I had to pay £13 to quash it. They longed 

 to hook me in, from mere hatred to London missionaries. I did not 

 remain an hour after I could move. But I do not wonder at your 

 anxiety for my speedy return. I am sorry you have been disappointed, 

 but you know no mortal can control disease. The Makololo are 

 wonderfully well pleased with the path we have already made, and 

 if I am successful in going down to Quilimane, that will be still better. 

 I have written you by every opportunity, and am very sorry your 

 letters have been miscarried." 



To his father-in-law he expresses his warm gratitude 

 for the stores. It was feared by the natives that the 

 goods were bewitched, so they were placed on an island, 

 a hut was built over them, and there Livingstone found 

 them on his arrival, a year after ! A letter of twelve 

 quarto pages to Mr. Moffat gives his impressions of his 

 journey, while another of sixteen pages to Mrs. Moffat, 

 explains his " plans," about which she had asked more 

 full information. He quiets her fears by his favourite 

 texts for the present — " Commit thy way to the Lord," 

 and "Lo, lam with you alway;" and his favourite vision 

 of the future — the earth full of the knowledge of the 

 Lord. He is somewhat cutting at the expense of so- 

 called " missionaries to the heathen, who never march 

 into real heathen territory, and quiet their consciences 

 by opposing their do-nothingism to my blundering do- 

 somethingism ! " He is indignant at the charge made by 

 some of his enemies that no good was done among the 



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